I'm thinking Sony signed a deal with Netflix in regards to exclusive 4k content in order to funnel users onto that format.... There is really no other explanation considering Sony JUMPED on DVD with the PS2 and JUMPED on blu ray with the PS3 and the fact that they are killing it this generation whilst MS is selling poorly(in comparison) and yet they included a 4k player in the Xbox One S.
Sony have proven time and time again that they don't really mind spending money on trivial items. The light strip and capacitive power and eject buttons on the launch PS4, the 4 USB ports and various card readers on the OG PS3. Firewire and USB ports on the original PS2. These all could have been omitted, reducing the cost of the console to product and yet they were present. The omission of an UHD blu ray player is baffling considering the cost over a standard blu ray drive is minimal. They even threw in a third USB port in the rear of the PS4 Pro and kept the optical port and light bar so this is quite perplexing.







