Quite frankly, the PS2's long lifespan is thanks to its mainstream appeal. It's not GTA, or MGS, or FF, or any of the usual "OMG SISTUM SELLURZ" that are cited by core gamers that keeps its popularity high. It's quirky titles like SingStar, Guitar Hero, Eye Toy, and other such products which have that effect. Products, in other words, that give an authentically unique experience instead of basically being something you can sum up as "just like (older product) but (new feature)!".
Thus far, the PS3 has little to nothing in that regard. The Eye of Judgement is "just like Eye Toy, but more powerful!". The PS3 SingStar game is "just like the PS2 SingStar, but with new songs!". The SIXAXIS/DualShock 3 is "just like the DualShock 2, but with motion sensors!". The system is the very definition of "incremental upgrade". And it is not incremental upgrades which appeal to the masses; incremental upgrades appeal to the "safe" crowd who don't want to rock the boat and who are content to re-buy and re-play the same gameplay experience with slight variations for all time. The mainstream gamers want experiences that break away from what's normal, that challenge them to play games in a new way, that give them authentically new experiences.
Sky Render - Sanity is for the weak.
