Problem for the Vita is that a rocky start is way worse than a rocky finish. Developers pull plugs on games for Vita now and it's incredibly hard to turn this around. Without games nobody will buy the device and without install base no third party in their right mind will spend ressources on the device. Monster Hunter was a surprise hit for the PSP but this time, Sony needs to save their handheld themselves. I'm not sure they are capable of doing this. We are still at a point where it could go either way, but the bad ending is way more likely at this point.
Ongoing bet with think-man: He wins if MH4 releases in any shape or form on PSV in 2013, I win if it doesn't.