But if not for gaming, you could have bought two standalone Blu-ray players:
http://www.empiredirect.co.uk/conten...~panasonic.htm ?
I think the key selling factor behind the PS3 is the PS2. That was simply a corker of a console and has a fanbase that would make even the Wii whimper. It's logical for many of those millions to want to stick to the tried-and-trusted and upgrade to the PS3.
Imagine if the PS3 was manufactured by another company, let's say it was Toshiba's first-ever games console. Would it have been a success? I think it may have died off in its first few months with its £425 launch price. The PS2 fanbase, I think, helped keep it afloat during that initial period, and Blu-ray may have been a small factor, too.
I'd still like to get a PS3 myself, but at present I couldn't justify the cost.