Couple of things.
1. The CD is mastered from a very early version of the program, it can never prepare a tax return without downloading a significant update which is basically installing the program from a download anyway. So whatever your situation is, you must already be used to connecting the internet for downloads at least temporarily.
2. Once you purchase the download, you get an installer file (exe for PC or dmg for Mac). Separate from actually running the install program, the installer file could be saved offline on a CD or flash drive if you ever need to re-install the program after removing it.
3. You can download the installer file an unlimited number of times (you have a limited number of license activations, but you have unlimited downloads of the installer). And I believe the installer is updated throughout the season, so if you re-downloaded the installer file in May, it would be fully updated. If you save that updated installer file offline, you have something better than the CD, since that updated installer can be used to install a working version that doesn't need additional online access to view, prepare or revise a tax return.
