The PS3 actually isn't that expensive...

[A Black Falcon]

The core is a valid purchase for those who just want the games at their most basic. The only reason you'd want a HDD & Xbox Live Silver (free) is to go online and download extras, or play against others (Xbox Live Gold - Subscription) otherwise you're good. I value having the choice...and I despise Sony for forcing so much crap in to the PS3. I won't ever get one, ever.

The normal X360 is $60 more expensive for about 300 times more save/download space. Why the heck would anyone get the Core? The only reason is what I said -- people thinking only about the initial sticker price and not about the actual cost of the extras you need to make it work.

I prefer MS's approach of everything you want, nothing you don't. If I don't want to go online and download demos, games, etc then why do I need a HDD? If I don't buy movies then why do I need a blu-ray/hd-dvd drive? If I don't care for backwards compatability then why should I care? If I want the wired controllers so I don't have to get a charge kit then let me decide that...

If you don't mind spending a lot more money, that's fine, but it's not exactly the most efficient way to go about things... sure you can not get things you don't need, but most of those things should probably be built-in anyway, so they're more in the realm of "required extras if you want to properly use the console"... that applies for Xbox Live and the HDD for sure, anyway. And over a normal five year lifespan Live would cost $250... that's a lot. Add $100 more if you need wireless internet, too.

Oh yeah, and $75 controllers sure are fun too aren't they... :) (wireless controller + play and charge kit + extra battery is around that) Yeah, wired controllers are a lot cheaper, and are probably a better buy, but the wireless ones seem to be a lot more popular. Anyway, it's only got two front USB ports, you need wireless controllers if you want to play three or four player games... I wonder how much PS3 and Wii controllers will cost. Given that they are wireless too, probably way too much just like X360 ones. :(