Yeah getting updates for your games is always a good thing just like a computer but u dont have to pay for gold. I set up an xbox live silver account so, when theres an update for one of the games Im playing I hop on live download and disconnect. You can also purchase game content with a silver account.
You don´t NEED live. You can perfectly play offline only. I had my xbox 360 for almost 2 years and only plugged it to the net 3 or 4 times, and only to spent a weekend or so.
Multiplayer is funnier with the other player sitting next to you.
In my modest opinion, Live is in fact very expendable. I´m cautious not to get banned, but if I get, I´m definitely not buying another console.
And about games updates, I never really missed em.
No, updates don´t download every time you start up a game. Yes, they are stored in the HD. If you really wish to update youre games, you update them once the update comes out, and unplug youre xbox for good.
When you start the game on live it asks if you wish to install the update its permanent.
I just got ninja gaiden 2 and in the second chapter there was a stair way where you fight under it I got stuck half way between that stairway every time I fought them. I went on likve to see if there was an update got it and that problem was fixed. Thats why I like updating my games.
Next I'm looking at an Xbox 360 pro that's been refurbished and has a 60 gb drive installed. Says it has the Falcon Chipset which from what I've found on the net is supposed to be a good thing.
If you mod the console then you are already potentially banishing it to a life of offline play. There are tons of theories and nothing is confirmed but once you mod the firmware it will always have a risk of being banned. You could play offline for months and then decide to play an original on Live! and possibly be banned. Don't exclude yourself from Live! because of paranoia. If you get banned then you're back to where you said you would be, playing offline.
