A group called the TeknoGods has released version 1.0 of a "multiplayer loader" for MW2, which is essentially a server emulator that bypasses IWnet and allows players to connect directly to a listen server. The loader still requires Steam for network initialization, but the two-player co-op mode is no longer dependent on IWnet's matchmaking facility.
The plan for version 1.1 is to enable dedicated servers, without the need to connect to either IWnet or Steam. (MW2 already has dedicated server code - it's just disabled.) The beauty of the loader is that it's not a hacked executable. It's a straight code injection, which means that it operates in much the same way as a mod. That, in turn, means that it's going to be extremely difficult for IW to patch the loader to death.
Hacking dedicated servers into existence is not without its pitfalls. Without Steam, there will be no anti-cheat. Although the loader is designed to work only with original (i.e. not cracked) executables, it's entirely possible that a new crack will be developed that the loader can't detect. And, most importantly, there's the risk that your Steam account will be banned if the IWnet bypass is detected.
None of this changes the fact that MW2 for the PC is $60-worth of gaming f*ckery. But, it is nice to see that there are still a few guys out there that aren't content to get bent over by Infinity Ward, even as the reek of a failed boycott still permeates the air.
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