You both make excellent points...
Perhaps I jumped the gun at pointing towards Bioware. Perhaps not. Perhaps we'll never know. *Zelda secret tune* (You know the one: Link)
I find myself saying this way too often these days:
Bioware executives are now EA executives. There is little-to-no difference in how they think - both want money, money, money, and now, now, NOW. An appropriation of Paranoia's Computer might work best:
"The Company is your friend. The Company wants your money. Spendthriftiness is mandatory. Failure to spend is treason. Treason is punishable by summary execution."
Not the best analogical rewording I've ever come up with, but it's how both sides are thinking now. Try and appeal to everyone (except your hardcore fanbase, the people that made you what you are) and grub as much money as you can.
“These products contain codes that can be redeemed for a downloadable content pack for Mass Effect 3 multi-player. They are slightly randomized during the registration and could include powerful new weapons and new characters. The pack could also include character boosters, weapon modifications, and weapon upgrades to make your multi-player squad stronger. (Only supported on XBox360 and PC.)”
I don't really care about DLC weapons or weapon mods seeing as how all these are for multi-player mode. What I'm intrigue by is "new characters." Are "new characters" new recruitable squadmates? If so, that would suck so bad.
Well Bioware stated that all the previous squadmates will re-appear in singleplayer so no worries there.
Perhaps entirely new and original squadmates, but I doubt it. It would be a reaaaalllllyyyyyyy bad move!
Besides which, Bioware said that the multiplayer component is with other players only so I'm not sure what they mean with 'squad' in Multiplayer seeing as it's supposed to be 'just you and your friends'.