Despite having not installed Flaming Cliffs for a few years (due to FACTUAL SF based problems) I'm revisiting the topic because I'm interested in the FC upgrade.

So what's the Starforce consensus around here these days?

When FC came out the consensus was negative, no matter how much certain fanboys disputed that fact. Ubisoft kind of confirmed this...

But again, this isn't about yesterday.

What (if any) consensus is there today?

big problem is that SF used to install drivers for control of optical readers/burners, whatever.. and that caused problems to some (Sf claims otherwise, so, anyone can take the version he prefers)

more recent versions, however, especially with win7 "certified drivers check" seem to rely totally on internet check, so, no drivers are installed... AFAIK at least...

even with flaming cliffs you can have that latest version, if you buy the downloaded copy rather dans the CD one (which uses old version)

I think it still depends on the SF version. The one implemented in DCS:Black Shark for example is absolutely unproblematic.

Yep, technically the BS and LOFC 2.0 implementation are only active as long as the program runs, and do not install system drivers running in the background.

From a support POV there remains (to me) the issue of limited activations.