Here's a rather simple scenario, using my own experience:
I own this laptop: http://www.frys.com/product/7167982?site=sr:SEARCH:MAIN_RSLT_PG
Pretty run of the mill, in terms of how much an average laptops cost. And considering it is average, we can extrapolate that many people's laptops are comparable, so there's a large base of people to base this analysis on. Yet, I can play Skyrim on this laptop, without overclocking, just to give you guys an idea of the benchmark.
Now, with such a computer, I can play Alan Wake, Minecraft, Witcher 2, Left 4 Dead, Left 4 Dead 2, Skyrim with Dawnguard (since the PS3 didn't get it for several months after its initial release), etc et al.
Now, I, the average consumer, have an average laptop, and can play all these games, and more. Now, I walk into the store and consider getting a console. Xbox 360 or PS3. What would I be telling myself? Which platform would give me the largest amount of total gaming experience? If I get a 360.....well, I already have Alan Wake, Witcher 2, etc. That doesn't expand on anything. If I get a PS3, I get to experience Alan Wake, Witcher 2, etc. AND ALSO get Last of Us, Gran Turismo, etc.
Anyone talking about "experiences you can get on one but not the other" is disregarding the mind of the consumer. You are only talking about "strict one on one comparisons" to see "who can hold their own". But that doesn't matter, to the consumer. One system can have a plethora of games, yet if the consumers decide to get the other system and buy one or two games en masse, it doesn't matter how much system 1 can "hold its own in a strict 1v1 comparison", because, I, the consumer, am not thinking in a strict 1v1 comparison. I may not have system A, but I can still get the experience of system A without owning system A, because I am an average US citizen, with an average computer, and this average computer can run those games
If I (and by default, many millions of people, since it's a cheaper laptop) have this average PC, yet I can run all those "consoles exclusives" as well as many multiplats (that computer can run Sleeping Dogs, Assassin's Creed 3, Portal 2, SFxTekken, and more), why would I choose a 360, as a gamer and a consumer, over a PS3? I can play God of War, Last of Us, Uncharted series, R&C, etc. AND play Minecraft, Witcher, L4D, Alan Wake etc. With your 360, you only get to play Minecraft, L4D, Witcher, Alan Wake, etc.
If you're a gamer, which scenario, from the above, is the most logical?
