For a very long time now, I have said that the loss of demos, rentals, and the ability to resell games has significantly reduced how likely I am to take a chance on something new.
I played so many more games, and a much bigger variety, when the penalty for trying something new was only my time or $5-10.
I hate having to spend a lot of time poring over reviews to see what other people thought, and then gamble on a $30-60 product that I might not even like. Most of the time that result in a game getting added to my wishlist and I'll pick it up later in a sale, rather than buying right away.
When the cost was free (demo) or low (rental/new game that can be resold) I'd buy a game and draw my own conclusions about it. There are many times where my own opinion on a game has not agreed with the mainstream gaming press.
I don't like it being tied into a subscription service, but this is a step in the right direction.