Thoughts on Securom?

I was thinking of buying a new PC game since my old favorite disk will no longer load (Cyclic Redundancy Check thread) and one of the complaints on one I would like to try (CivIV: Colonization) is Securom is automatically installed. I don't want malware on my computer but I understand that companies feel the need for it. I don't intend to make pirate copies but I understand that/why some would.

According to some complainers the game shuts down during play because the parameters of Securom are exceeded, and this is on an original CD. My Civ4 used to shut down late in the game when it was hogging too much memory. Awlays p***ed me off.

I'm not sure whether Securom acts as a cookie for the whole computer or is confined within the limitations of the game. The obvious answer is to not buy a game with it included. At least until the glitches are patched. Lord knows when that may be.

I enjoy strategy PC games. At this point I am open to any suggestions anyone else finds enjoyable. I don't mind the occasional war but I don't want shooting things to be the main thrust of the game.

Thanks for your time and your thoughts.
Gary