Their deals and large communities are very attractive. But Steam isn't the only platform PC has. Its the biggest, but Impulse, D2D, GoG, etc all have communities and good deals. As you say, people flock where friends and communities are. But there are people who break the typical mold and go to another platform based on opinions that one platform is superior to another.

no lol, that would be insane. people who make consoles dont give some of their best games to a competitor

to part 1-- i do agree it was a test but the execution was terrible.  i personally was very excited when it was first announced but the fact that not every title went digital, some that did go digital arrived late, and a large uncertainty of which games would or would not be released digitally severly turned me off.  I'm most likely going to get an NGP and if I do I won't buy a single game physically if I don't have to.

to part 2 -- i don't think that the vinyl niche market has anything to do with digital file size but yes, i do believe there will always be a market for that sort of thing.  you can still get film camera too but lets face the facts -- the size of that market is no longer significant compared to the digital camera market.

i 100% disagree with him, the day consoles and physcial media go away is the day i keep playing the games that are out and the older systems to keep my gaming ongoing. i will never buy a system that is only digital media, and i know alot of ppl that agree with me on that.

Good thread!

Each console has a distinct shape, look and personality. That makes it really tempting to buy an actual box. I love things that look cool. I would hang a black gamecube around my neck if I could :P

No matter WHAT happens, if Nintendo/MS/Sony releases a console then they'll always be able to sell one to me.

Be sad if that is what ends up happening. No phyiscal media for new big games? I wont buy.  I dont see it happening really though. Sure theirs plenty of people who use those services, but there are also tons of people with my stance. Also,what about those people with not internet? If they are wanting to grow the market how can they with those people?

Apparently, Nintendo won't even participate next gen.

Physical disks might die in favour of Digital Download, but no way do home consoles die. Handhelds WILL NOT replace home consoles. 

Thats because they went out of buisness this gen dont you remember?

Right. Nintendo is a control freak for having their own devices to develop on, and certainly would never work on another market where they'd have to share revenues with another provider