You're on a Rol today.
But I agree! Naming buttons "Square, Triangle and Circle" was one of the most impractical decisions ever!
But my real answer to this question is lack of sprites! Sony entered the turf only with 3D (and ugly 3d, even for its time) and they now can't reuse that to make them sound classical. Sprites are Iconic, and Sony lacks that in the old school gamer mind!







