Even if it's not saving Sony much money by removing the GS chip, it's a marketing thing to get customers to up the purchase to an 80 gig or 60 gig when they get to the store. Sony somewhat wants to discourage the 40 gig purchase. The engineering economics and marketing are two different things.
Parents getting little Timmy a PS3 will probably ignore the fact that the PS2 BC is not there.
"Naturally the common people don't want war: Neither in Russia, nor in England, nor for that matter in Germany. That is understood. But, after all, IT IS THE LEADERS of the country who determine the policy and it is always a simple matter to drag the people along, whether it is a democracy, or a fascist dictatorship, or a parliament, or a communist dictatorship. Voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is TELL THEM THEY ARE BEING ATTACKED, and denounce the peacemakers for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. IT WORKS THE SAME IN ANY COUNTRY." --Hermann Goering, leading Nazi party member, at the Nuremberg War Crime Trials
Conservatives: Pushing for a small enough government to be a guest in your living room, or even better - your uterus.
