I mentioned this is another thread and after thinking about it more, it makes perfect sense.
Microsoft with it's policies when first announced was acting like it had a monopoly in the market. They introduced services which were mandatory and that in essence replicated other digital markets because that is the way they and the industry is going. Look at MP3 players and iTunes, iTunes is pretty much a monopoly and was able to introduce it's DRM because it was an early adapter, iPod came out when the idea of keeping music on a iPod was a great idea, music files were small, downloaded fast. Then later when iPhone and iPad were released, people just didn't mind downloading small files with heavy DRM to their digital devices.
But they could have never done that, they can't replicate Apple's success because they weren't a monopoly in the gaming industry, infact now they are last. Restricting customers after years of customers being used to other ways of the markets working was a joke, as it seemed to only benefit them and developers while screwing over those that make them money. This angered people.
Alas, they changed their mind. Good, we as consumers should never have accepted being screwed over so much with restrictions and I'm glad people spoke out.
Sony didn't have a better vision, they understood consumers better and if you understand consumers better you understand an industry better.
Hmm, pie.
