I think people were more angry about the fact that the persistent connection was required for DRM reasons, rather than a bona-fide gameplay mechanic. It felt like EA being user hostile rather than some genuine attempt to enhance an aspect of the simulation like the GP is suggesting.
Yeah, thinking back more clearly, I think you're right. There was a promise of deeper simulation with the extra server capacity, but it ended up just being DRM and a pain in the ass.
I'd love a persistent, deeply simulated SimCity with cross-municipal boundary multiplayer elements.
