Just don't buy hastily. I'll rather try it first from the illegal sources, then, if the game is really that good I'll buy it.
If I went straight forward to buy some really bad games with humongous hype, it would be waste of money. Like in the case of Dead Island and 'new' Deus Ex. That would be 120 USD of complete waste.
Both games I torrented, tried and deleted in a matter of week of try-out. Pity the bandwidth.
While Skyrim will be mine next investment. When prices drop on Steam, later. :]
If you satisfy my tastes you get money. Simple as a night with a hoe. And don't preach me ''you have demos for that''. Many games were one thing in the demo and totally different story in full release. Demo just gives you the frame of the full image.
I like to spend my money on something that has worth. Like Red Orchestra Heroes of Stalingrad, for MP experience alone.