Digital ownership doesn't really exist, I guess.

Of course it does, courtesy of GOG and similar.

I don't know why people are repeatedly surprised that they don't control a game that only exists in digital form on a platform they don't control.

Not many people care about it these days, but to actually own your games. Since le PC master race sold their consumer rights for a copy of HL2 20 years ago, physical console games are almost the only option.

GOG's library of recent AA/AAA games is growing but still very lacking.