I'm against lowering the rating for an app that requires a "No CD Patch" to run simply because they aren't hard to find or install (normally anyway) and when used restores full functionality to the game. Much like having to use a native DLL. Lower ratings should be reserved for games that have problems which are considerably harder to get working or have unresolvable issues (of varying degrees). I have little respect for copy-protection schemes due to either a) underhanded methods of operation or b) the mess they can create. Normally the only thing they end up doing is stopping people that legally own the games from actually using them (and this is a good example of that). If people really want to pirate games then they wouldn't have much of an issue spending 2 minutes longer looking for something.
Just my (slightly irritated) 2 pence.
Ben H.