"ports, for example, are extremely profitable, because their dev costs are *very* low."
No. Developers when directly asked, point out ports are costly. Not as costly as an original game, but not low. If your argument is based on assumptions, it's not a good argument.
And we know why MH3 profited. It sold well and people were paying for the online, in a way that exceeded the development and marketing. Duh. The figures are there, so it's not an assumption.
A flashy-first game is awesome when it comes out. A great-first game is awesome forever.
Plus, just for the hell of it: Kelly Brook at the 2008 BAFTAs