If I wanted fully digital, I would go for an improved MMO with DM and player capabilities.
Going fully digital means players are less inclined to know the rules. A few clicks and you have a character. Basically like the Dragon Age character builder that they released before the game. A good thing perhaps? But how do they market it? Marketing it in online is suicidal as it competes head to head with video games and rpgs who are still book based will emerge as a flagship.
WotC stuck between a rock and hard place:
- 4E D&D splatbook book sales being eaten up by the DDI character builder?
- Abandoning printed books and going all digital, may put them up directly against MMORPGs?
- Pathfinder and other rpg publishers, taking up players who won't play 4E?