Doesn't bother me, I don't pay for Xbox Live Gold, and thus won't be playing online. 

It does suck a bit. 
But I figure my friends and I won't be all that constructive when we play together. It will just devolve into us killing each other and blowing stuff up. But whatever.

That sucks I guess. Oh well.

Not really. Even if the story is 20 times better and deeper then the first Crackdown's we're still in wafer-thin territory.
 
@Slax said:

 It will just devolve into us killing each other and blowing stuff up.

" It does suck a bit.  But I figure my friends and I won't be all that constructive when we play together. It will just devolve into us killing each other and blowing stuff up. But whatever. "

This game seems really behind the times in a lot of aspects.

if memory serves me correct, the first game was exactly like this, so there is no change. I don't think it really matters, if you have fun in the game wouldn't you want to play it over again.  i found the demo very enjoyably and i cant wait for the game, everything seems better.

Damn, really? Borderlands was THAT much more fun knowing we all didn't have to play catch-up if we only played co-op.

That means you'll just get double (or quadruple if you play with 3 other friends) the orbs.

Design decisions like this really annoys me.

What was the alternative? something like Lost Planet 2, where only people who where on the same mission progression can join your game? I haven't played crackdown 1 or the demo (I have decided to get the game so no sense in playing the demo, I'll just wait until it is released) but the open world structure pretty much forces the game to this type of multiplayer.

It didn't bother me at all. Your agent keeps his progression, and that's the really important thing. The game goes pretty quick and  is much more fun when you go through it playing co-op, so I wouldn't have an issue with replaying portions for the benefit of a friend.

There are a lot of glaring oversights in this game but I dont think this is one of them

Nope, not at all. You know what pissed me off most about Diablo II online? The fact that people like to rush. Meaning getting through the story as quick as possible. In a way I like to prepare myself for what's coming up.