It's making them so much money and it will continue with ps5 (now that most console gamers have come to terms with it) that it was one of the best business decisions they've ever made (not saying you said it wasn't, just stressing how much money they've made through it as opposed to how few people mind this to not get a ps4 because of it). As a consumer, I couldn't care less, as I don't play online and get it anyway for the free games.

No UHD blu ray player was the opposite of a misstep. It would have driven the price higher and the audience for one is tiny. Sales of blu rays alone (not even 4k ones) clearly show that.

As for non full Skyrim mod support, I'm sure there is a reason. PC gamers who install many Skyrim mods run into all sorts of problems. Read online. When you have a problem, the first thing anyone suggests to fix it is to remove the mods.

Improved framerate is not as simple as you make it sound. They made the right choice not allowing it to be done automatically especially considering it'd give an advantage to people in online multiplayer. Pro patches are much better.

Fair enough to consider that a misstep, but it clearly isn't a RECENT misstep which is the thread topic,
that isn't even a decision that happened this generation, rather it was just continuance of previous gen norm. 

Your last line is why I think they pulled off their introduction of it so well, throwing in something extra (free games)
which makes it so that it isn't JUST "mandatory pay to play online with the PSN" but even in your case value on it's own.
Not to say plenty still might not like it, esp. those who play relatively few online games and don't like the free offerings.

What missteps? Sony is perfect, everybody knows it.

Sony is well on track to sell 150 million console sales with the great success of the PS4. Emerging markets in India, China, etc will see the PS4 push on in its sales with huge sales growth. PS4 has a long list of exclusive games that will boost console sales. The PS4 will reach 55 million sales by the end of 2016 and the next 3 years the PS4 will sell 50 million systems to surge over 100+ million console sales and be on its way for 150+ million console sales.

In what parallel reality are you living? Does it have chocolat rivers? I would go there.

User was moderated for an accumulation of posts - including this one ~ CGI

Is this thread for real? This is just what Sony would have done anyway.

People are willing to pay for a service if it gives them value. I'd very happily pay for a service on Switch if it granted all of the features and performance that PSN and XBL offer.

Exactly, that's what makes the OP so confusing.

I agree. It does seem to have been their plan all along. What's interesting, though, is that the number of people who got ps+ was tiny before the ps4. Clearly not enough people saw these free games as good enough reason to pay that amount every year.