Because it won't just be 'watching it all over again', it'll be a fleshed out retelling in a different form. The game is pretty bare bones on story if you really condense it, so for this to be 9 episodes, there has to be a lot more packed in to replace all the gameplay. That's like saying, the book was already the story whenever there's an adaption from page to screen. It's a different format and most of us are excited to see if it translates and has the same impact and hopefully (and from reviews it's likely), get some surprises and additional enjoyment from the TV version. Plus you know... it's on HBO in the prime Sunday night spot where millions of people will watch who did not already play the game. It's not just for the gamers.
Yes, it's made by HBO (not an HBO max original), so it streams coinciding with the television schedule. To each their own, and I'm not trying to convince anyone, but I really still enjoy weekly shows and digesting the hour, and thinking about what's next and having something to look forward to. I have managed to stay away from spoilers regarding changes, and I haven't watched any of the clips floating around (I think there's 2 or 3 minute or so long clips from the show). No idea where they came from, not watching.
Was W. Earl Brown not up for the role of Bill? He is already an accomplished actor and has a relationship with HBO.
HBO does dark. Come on now. I think very few things will be changed from the game, yeah we'll get additions but I doubt we get outright changed like that. Thats a story beat that doesn't need to be changed.
Reviews have already pointed out that they toned down some of the violence in the early scenes. It is certainly within the realm of possibility.
I think it may be even more heartbreaking because he's also deaf and allegedly has cancer in the show.