This doesn't really surprise me, at all. But, hey, why shouldn't they? Xbox fans will just make excuses for it and continue to support this business model. They have been doing so since the release of the 360.
$99 for a Wi-Fi Adapter, when Wi-Fi was cheap enough to include in the PS3 and the Wii. HDDs had to be purchased from MS, and for ridiculous prices. $179 for 120GB, when you could get a 500GB laptop HDD for cheaper. They even skimped on the DVD drive, which would scratch discs if you so much moved the console, even if barely. Many things the PS3 and Wii offered free access to, like Netflix, Youtube, and the web browser, MS threw behind a paywall. Heck, many even excused a 33%-50% failrate, just cause it let their guys get out the gate a year and some change earlier than the competition.
So, this gen is no different. The controller still uses AA batteries. You have to pay extra for a recharge kit, just so MS can make some extra money on it. More apps and features are going to be shoved behind a paywall, as well, but still be advertised like they are accessible to everyone. And I'm sure some of the same people who excused RROD excused the DRM fiasco, claiming it was only Sony fanboys who were making a fuss. Preorders say otherwise.
Fortunately for consumers, this time around they don't have to wait over a year for another option to be available. And I think preorders are showing who's business model is winning more gamers over.
