If you have the clout to make it worthwhile, and the opportunity to sell on Steam, it’s a good choice.
I think the important bit about Direct sales is that there is not barrier to entry, and thus anyone can have a stab at it. Marketplaces like Steam (or other gated/closed platforms) can turn an actual loss if your product is not up to the challenge, so it’s unreasonable to expect new developers with untested products to jump into said markets straight away (not to mention they probably won’t be able to do so anyway).
The greatest problem for… Well, for any industry, has always been distribution. Publishers/Distributors have had an iron grip on their respective markets for a long time, and, driven by profitability, have steered said markets in specific directions, to the detriment of newcomers with new fresh ideas.
Direct sales might not be the most lucrative option, but they give the chance for a newcomer to try their new idea unimpeded, and, in case they succeed, carve their own niche (Like, you know, Minecraft did).
No one said it is easy, but having a bad option beats having no option at all. 
Edit:
Sounds hilarious, but that one crosses the line, as you can pretty much have your life ruined by the exposure of said details. It’s one thing to berate the pirate, or take the game they haven’t payed for away. But exposing them to, for example, becoming unemployable, is way too much.
Not to mention that the “screenshot of the desktop” thing probably infringes on privacy rights big time.
And the Earthbound thing is indeed cruel, but the Vuvuzelas (#2) have me shivering.