So, with RRoD 'in the past', why don't I buy a 360? Here are my top ten reasons, in no particular order:
1) I don't believe RRoD is fixed.
2) It is too noisy.
3) The power brick.
4) My family uses four IDs on my PS3, and three IDs on my PCs; obviously, this costs nothing. As far as I'm aware, this would cost extra money on the 360. As I would want seperate IDs for my wife and eldest daughter at the very least, this is unacceptable to me.
5) For what it is, the 360 costs too much when all the features I would want are added. Another PC is a better option. I have 4 already, but another would not go amiss.
6) I dislike the 360's closed architecture, meaning everything must be vetted by Microsoft to hit the machine. This allows them to do things like charge for themes or gimp games that traditionally rely on the modding community, such as UT3.
7) I see no reason to pay to play online. My PCs have better online features and are free online. My PS3 has worse online functions (but still more adequate for the job, and apparently getting better) and is free online. With that in mind, why would I buy a machine where a service that should be free costs money?
8) There are no exclusives on 360 I want to play. I have a PS3 and new PC, and they provide access to every game I currently want to play (or will very soon), excepting Nintendo exclusives (making a Wii look like a potential future purchase for me). I'm not a child without any patience (unlike my daughters; but, the 360 offers nothing they want); I can wait a few months for timed exclusives and the like. Further on this, the string of exclusives on the platforms I own dwarf the 360-only exclusive list in terms of variety and what interests me.
9) I have no real desire to have another gaming money-sink; the PC and PS3 drains enough of my cash as it is. For the record, this is one of the primary reasons why I've not bought a Wii yet.
10) And, finally, I dislike Microsoft's monopolistic business practices, many of which have been shown to be very illegal (just take the anti-trust problems in Europe as a single example, where MS have been fined €1.68 billion so far). Yes, I may use some Microsoft products, and I may enjoy their use, but that does not mean I will go out of my way to buy more when I look at MS as a whole and dislike what I see. And, yes, for those keen to argue, Sony may also have its own dark recesses, but to my eyes these are almost entirely obscured by the long shadow cast my Microsoft (but only if one is in the business of making comparisons about such things).
Now, for some, those reasons may not seem valid, but the OP asked for individual opinions, and these are mine. To provide the counterpoint, I can currently see one clear reason to buy a 360:
1) Some friends and my brother own one, and I could play with them.
However, I have other friends on PS3 and PC, so my gaming needs are largely met, leaving that reason a little bit weak; further, it is utterly outweighed by the reasons I don't buy a 360.
Now, of the reasons I list, most could be counteracted by a better 360 (quieter, free online, unlimited free IDs, included internal extras -- such as power brick and wireless -- realistically priced HDDs, etc); however, I'm not expecting that to happen any time soon, if ever. However, if it does, I'll probably buy one. Then, the positives will outweight the negatives.
