Nice post KruzeS. And here is the definitive proof that the 80 GB PS3 still contains some PS2 hardware, from Sony themselves!
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1759,2099538,00.asp
Q: Does this mean that the PS2 hardware chips have been removed completely and replaced with software-only emulation?
A: The original PS3 used the Emotion Engine/Graphics Synthesizer to emulate PS2 titles. With the latest European specification we have removed the Emotion Engine, retaining the graphics chip.
My Mario Kart Wii friend code: 2707-1866-0957