In a truly free market every detachable component of a console could be produced by anyone without need of a licence. The market would then "decide" which brands of component survive based on how well they perofm. Of course a lot of people would get shafted with crappy products until the crapsters got totally exposed and people stopped buying.
Car companies don't make you buy licenced tyres, approved licenced wheels and all manner of parts have after market brands.
It's funny really. MS would probably say it's to protect the quality of the product to prevent people from getting ripped off by crappy third party hardware.
That's nanny capitalism for you. We know what's best for you so we aren't going to let you buy anything unless we approveit first.
“The fundamental cause of the trouble is that in the modern world the stupid are cocksure while the intelligent are full of doubt.” - Bertrand Russell
"When the power of love overcomes the love of power, the world will know peace."
Jimi Hendrix
