Well, clearly you can take the view MS investments didn't see the best results. I'd probably agree that specifically looking at just Japan, the HW and SW sales resulting from what are (allegedly) paid for timed exclusives is a little weak given the assumed cost.
However, those titles sold probably as well as they could, and they did drive small sales spikes for HW, so in the bigger picture they did somewhat raise MS profile in Japan, and at least get titles like ToV on the platform.
I agree MS cannot pull out of Japan - that would be a terrible move IMO. They have to remain committed.
The real mystery for me (apart from the fact 360 was available and PS3 wasn't initially) is why some of those titles were ever timed exclusives. I'd say that HD versions of those jRPGs, looking at general sales in Japan, should never have been limited to just one HD console - given the install base of both PS3/360 in Japan and WW is way south of PS1/PS2 levels.
Try to be reasonable... its easier than you think...
