It's all about the software... maybe?
You know I think I'm going to play FF8 on my PS2.. just too see if it does work (LOL). I only tried FF7 and I found my FF8 game card sitting there... looking all lonely and such. (cough)
To be honest one of the big selling points of the PS2 wasn't the next gen games. People wanted to be able to play there old gen games. If I get a PS3 I will want to be able to play Xenosaga etc. on it. More importantly I would like better portability of data. I did not like the feature of the PS2 that required old PS1 game data carts (lame). The PS2 used another proprietary system as well. Finaly Sony clued in that it was wasting money and uses the (proprietary but more widely available) memstick.
I don't particularly Like Sony (in fact I hate them along with Microsoft) I'm unbiased toward nintendo. I bought a PS2 for one reason, I wanted my old games and FFX to play on it.
What drives consoles is NOT how cool the technology, it is
1) they work
2) they work as specified
3) they have software that can be used with them
4) people can save there game state without it being a pain
4 was and IS my biggest pet peave with the PS2 ..
developer wise the PS2 is a Royal PITA (Pain In The A<be creative> to work with. This is why Sony had the Linux PS2 developer kit available. Why? Because they were trying to get more developers for the PS2 (that's how bad things were) The PS3? I have not heard anything good or bad for it in terms of developement. The titles thus far aren't my cup of tea that are available for it either. So for me it's a Wait and See game.
So there Jury is still out if it will be a good or bad system. It would be nice if the firmware to there consoles were updateable to enhance compatibility after sale, however I don't know the details and I've been ignoring the next gen consoles pretty much myself. I find some of the ideas Sony used on the PS2 .. too political in thinking and not useful in thinking. Too much encryption and control (that's Sony for you) Sony went for. Well anyhow bottom line is none of the consoles being offered, are why I buy something, I buy something because I can use it. The console is a vehical for me to get there. IF I can't use it, I don't buy it. I don't care how cool it's video output might be, if I have no use for it, it's useless and therefore not something I'll buy.
So let the ... whatever wars continue, but ummm I hope there is something out there I can find a use for.
Cyb