If Sony makes a "Playstation Switch" could it succeed?

[PAOerfulone]

If they try to make their own hybrid to compete with the Switch, they would have to go all in on it and make that their one system going forward, and even then, they would still be at a big disadvantage. 

The Story: 
Sony has competed with Nintendo on the portable/handheld market for 2 generations, and in both generations, they had the same strategy. 

The Advantage:
Have a more powerful handheld than theirs that delivers a gameplay experience that is close to our consoles. 

The Disadvantage:
However, this has led to the PSP and Vita being more expensive and consume more battery, leading to a shorter battery life. 

The Score:
Nintendo, 2, Sony, 0.

If it didn't work the first two times, I don't see how it's going to work the 3rd time, even if they go all in with that system, because Nintendo is now going all in with theirs. 

If they try to release a "PlayStation Switch" with upgraded and better graphics that bring it on the same level as the PS4, or if that's what ends up being PS5, 3-4 years from now, with the type of graphical upgrade we are now expecting it to be over the PS4 Pro, we're looking at the PS3's launch price all over again. In fact, it could very easily be higher. Are all the people who bought a PS4 for $400 or a Switch for $300 going to buy a PS5/PlayStation Switch for $600 or more? I don't think so.

In my opinion, in order for them to have a realistic and reasonable shot at competing with Nintendo in the portable market, which will now become the hybrid market, they're going to have to bite the bullet on power and graphics. So, that they can have a chance to offer their system at a lower price and/or consume less battery. 

But, they also take a big risk by doing that. Because, if they do, that leaves the dedicated home console market, the market that Sony is the undisputed King and absolutely dominating at the moment, in its entirety, to Microsoft. And all the people who bought a PS4 or PS4 Pro because they were the most powerful consoles on the market at their time, to get the best graphical experience on a console; A good chunk of them are going to jump to Microsoft to get that experience. The Xbox One X has managed to exceed most people's launch expectations, which suggests that some of those people might be doing that already!

So not only does Sony drop out of their own main market and lose a big chunk of their consumers to the competition, they now have to compete with Nintendo, directly, in their main market that they have dominated for decades.  

And by biting the bullet on graphics and power so that their hybrid can have a chance to reasonably compete, putting theirs and Nintendo's systems at the same level, all of the 3rd party developers who used the difference in power and tech between Sony and Nintendo's systems as a reason to justify them shunning Nintendo's system and sticking to Sony's (and Microsoft's), no longer have that excuse.
Unless, of course, they decided to partner with Microsoft and develop exclusively for them, which I can see some of the Western 3rd party companies doing. However, it would be insanely idiotic for the Japanese ones. Which means, we could see games like a mainline Final Fantasy title, which have been exclusive to Sony consoles for so long, make a return or appear for the first time, on Nintendo's systems.

So, not only would Sony lose the advantage of stronger hardware, but the extra 3rd party support that comes with it. Which leaves it down to the one and biggest deciding factor of them all, 1st Party Exclusives. And THAT'S where Sony has always fallen short with their handhelds and why the odds would be so stacked against them if they decided to go the hybrid route.

In terms of quantity, I think Sony's amount of 1st party IPs is actually the same as Nintendo's. Hell, in terms of diversity and variety, Sony's might even be better. However, in terms of popularity, recognition, and brand power, none of them, NOT ONE, can come even remotely close to Mario or Pokemon, ESPECIALLY in Japan, which is the strongest and biggest market for hybrids/portables and Nintendo's market. There, you can also add Animal Crossing, Tomodachi, Splatoon, and Smash Bros. to the list. 

Conclusion:
With all of this taken into account, I think a PlayStation Switch would have a small chance to succeed and the risks would be too big. And with the position Sony is in right now, I don't think they should even bother. The best thing Sony can do is to just keep doing what they're doing. If it ain't broke, don't fix it.