I don't get why people need to JUSTIFY what Sony has done.

Let them do it.

Fuck Yeah!, this is $$$$ony :D be prepared for ps4 pricing

You will have to buy a dedicated HDD for this 12 Gb version - it costs 90 euro XD

Interesting theory. Consumers flock to the old model because of the new pricing. Then when those are all sold, drop the price and watch them scramble. PS3 will win this gen yet, lol.

But really this is a tad misleading thread but still the fact is rather confusing. The 250gb in the US is a bundle...but despite that it should have stayed the same price of the model it was replacing, as of yet there is no word on if that $269 price is only for the bundle and once it is avaialble as stand alone it will be $249. Very confusing. As for the 500gb, well that is priced right at $299 and comes with Assasins Creed 3, pretty awesome. They should have launched the 12gb as well for $199, with that as the entry price no one would have batted an eye at the $269 shenanigans. Despite the bundle and larger HDD making it still better than the previous stand alone at $249 they set themselves up for a little controversy.

"owners of the 12GB model will be able to connect a 5 inch SATA internal hard drive with use of an official Mounting Bracket, or opt for purchase of an official PlayStation 250GB internal HDD."

http://blog.eu.playstation.com/2012/09/19/ps3-gets-smaller-and-lighter/

And it's confirmed that dedicated 250Gb HDD will be priced at 90 euro :p

I facepalmed when I saw the price for the 12GB model. I was hoping it would be something between £120-150 so I could pick it up at some point and try the few exclusives that I missed out on Sony's side this gen. But no, I don't even know what to say.

I expect the SONY believe that the new model should maintain current demand -- so they are trying to make as much money off the hardware as they can. Expect a price cut next year so SONY can announce the PS4 (which i expect so cost $399 US).

Yea, thats the main point. The pricing refelects that Sony are focusing on making as much profit as possible on the PS3 as they cna to launch the PS4.

Won't the Slim's price be lowered as a result of the Super Slim?

I don't see how this will boost european sales at all. Oh wait, the cutting edge crowd might jump regardless and Sony has a bunch of them hooked. Great move Sony.