The whole premise of collectors and collecting is having physical possession of things, including the physical game (in whichever format, disc or cart). Video game collector - key word "video game"... not Digital Download Paper Code Collector.
Say that as a former video game collector (Nintendo, SNES, PS1). There is no rationale or spin to excuse an obvious, and intentional choice (not an oversight). Total BS - greed, laziness, don't care attitude all boiled into one. Don't go bat for a corp or a decision that you had nothing to do with just to argue with someone online - the fuck?
Quit collecting myself, and sold most of it but it obviously sucks for those that still do to see shit like this. Those in charge of making these layered offerings at Insomniac fucked up (intentionally)... simple as.