Hype factor, it factor, public perception, word of mouth, etc.
Whatever one chooses to call it, like the OP says, it is not directly related to any of the factors in particular that would be expected to give a hardware platform an advantage that directly leads to market leader sales.
But it's not as though any platform can sell consistently and continuously on hype alone. At some point, it has to provide software/games/entertainment experience that keep new customers interested, but having the perception of being the "winning" or preferred platform does make it a lot easier for the marketshare leader to continue to sell its product with less effort than the runner ups.
SCE tried a lot harder to regain marketshare with the PS3 due to the slow start and poor initial public image. MS is trying a lot harder currently with the XBO for the same exact reasons based upon system updates, added functionality, debundling/price cuts/value bundling, catering to customer/public demands, etc. They're doing much better than SCE this generation in that respect whereas SCE seems to be fairly content to take a more leisurely approach to product improvement.
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