Even if the full game were on the disc it would still have to be installed to the hard drive so as far as storage space is concerned it would make absolutely no difference.
It says it requires an internet connection right on the retail box and Steam is installed when you install the game. A steam account is required to verify the key and tie the game to your account. You are misremembering (it was 20 years ago after all).
You're wrong. Half-Life 2 has always required a Steam account to play, even the CD version.
https://www.valvetime.co.uk/threads/is-steam-required-to-play-half-life-2.63937/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Half-Life_2
"Both the disc and Steam versions require Steam to be installed and active for...
You could make it even longer and throw in some numbers and punctuation and it would still be just as easy to remember. "In1997DanielandIwentsurfinginHawaii!" Trouble is coming up with a different sentence for every account you have. Personally I just use KeePass then I only have to remember a...
It's a hobby though, some of us crazy people just like working on this old stuff for fun :)
Plus he's making money on his Youtube videos so probably well worth the time.
$596 since 2005, but most of my Steam library came from Humble and Fanatical bundles and giveaways. For reference I have 1,103 games in my library. I also have hundreds of games on Epic and I've never spent a single cent there.