I own RS and quite like the game but let's not argue over the semantics of the word linear. Any game where you have this many modes and you constantly have to start in one of two cities - IMHO is for purposes of a pinball discussion, fitting of the description "linear". One of the reasons I do not play it much is because I am sooo tired of the Taxi Driver. If the cities were varied (other than West Coast) it would be a great game. It is a game of progression and any time players always have to start the same way it will get old in a home-use environment. Can't save your progress like a video game so it can get old.

It has fantastic toys, great theme integration, a great feel (lights, shaker) and a creative ruleset but gets bogged down with the "linear" aspect of it's progression.