Both Sony and MS spend a lot on advertising as a whole. The ratio for a given product or division just shifts according to priority.
For example for a while Sony have clearly spent plenty on TVs and 3D TVs.
Sure, $500 million or so for Kinect seems excessive - hell I'd argue it is excessive - but it's not like Sony doesn't spend plenty when it feels it suits the company to push something.
Heck, if we made most large, global companies divert half their spending budgets into public finances for the next three years or so we could probably sort out the global recession and various budget deficits in no time.
Basically, most big companies spend plenty on advertising. Although I wish they wouldn't.
Try to be reasonable... its easier than you think...
