To quote some numbers. "with a further 500k estimated for digital PC sales" (http://www.vgchartz.com/article/88353/battlefield-3-sells-more-than-35m-copies-in-first-week/)

I have no idea how accurate that number is, but since we're using this sites figures that means the pc version has sold an estimated 1,157,505 on the pc and that doesn't include the second weeks digital sales. So yes, whilst the sales aren't as strong as the consoles over 1.1 million sales certainly isn't bad. Especially considering it doesn't include any further digital sales.

Furthermore there are rumours that it'll be released on Steam. If thats the case then I'll be buying it because I held out because I don't want to use Origin.

Digital sales are missing and probably make up a huge chunk of the game's sales

All pc gamers play starcraft 2

Digital Sales are a huge part of total sales these days....especially for a game like battlefield, which is a mp focused game that requires a decent internet connection. Chances are those are the very same people who are more likely to download the game.

we also have to take in account how accurate are the PC software sales tracking?

Can you tell me why are they cheaper to build? I'm not trolling you, I just don't get it.

I don't know, maybe it's the pirate idiots whos to blame?

And i don't think it's because the game requires a monster pc. I have a midrange card, a xfx 6870 and it runs the game like a dream on full hd, 6870's aren't expensive these days.

its alot easier to get it on a console. I would agree that multiplatform games just won't sell well on PC.

won't sell "as" well, it's not like it sold 1 copy on the PC lol

This. As much as I love vgchartz our PC software tracking is horrible. BF sold over 200k copies (retail) in Germany on PC in two weeks. In UK it sold about 50k first week on PC (retail) and in Finland it sold 32k copies (retail) in two weeks on PC. That's only three countries and we already have bigger total than vgchartz has for whole EMEAA so far... Not to mention digital sales.

It's cheaper because you're working with the PC. By that I mean you have only one development kit (you do have to fiddle around with drivers, and optimizations for several PCS though.)

With that said, you don't have to do several of the same tricks as you do on the console to get similar performance. Also you need to factor in retail time. Ex: Game goes gold > go to distributor > make DVD copies of game > get all set in boxs > ship to stores > unload and place on shelfs.

Where as with PC digital distribution. ex: Game goes gold > upload to steam > it's on steam. 

Furthermore, remember when working with consoles - the PS3 and 360 are both different. Extra time i needed to update each build and try to make each one look on par.

Tl;dr

1) PCs have power + familiar dev kit
2) Most modern pc games  have less retail space, but more for digital markets
3) Console differences in terms of builds.

I hope that answered your question.