This means you can't pass the game around to your friends or sell it afterwards, which completely ruins the purpose of physical media imo. I mostly play PC these days so this doesn't affect me, but it's a disappointing direction for console games. At least they could've used an empty disc that has proof of ownership.
EDIT: Bethesda has confirmed that only the PC version won't include a disc. Physical versions of Xbox will include a disc. Whew.
Physical media is dying a slow and painful death. Sad to see really. I'd say to make a fuss, but most people don't seem to care.
Honestly, No disc + always online DRM is making me turn to piracy more and more. I want to be able to buy a game and just have a permanent offline copy of it. is that really too much to ask?
It does suck. I buy used games for a fraction of the price new/digital usually is, but there has been a few times over the last few years where the game has no physical edition and it annoys the hell out of me. I'd go full digital if it meant I actually own the media I am purchasing and didn't have bullshit online requirements. Oh well, back to more piracy.