With PS3 they went way too far with the hardware, and with PS4 they didn't go far enough. With PS3 they went all in, and with PS4 they really held back. PS5 does look to have found that balance point in between, but we have to see how it plays out, as per how the devs take to it and what games come out of it. As of now it does seem promising.
Mind you, it's almost like they wanted to go further with the tech but held back, yet had some of that ambition leak into the aesthetic design one way or another. Compared to all other PS consoles, PS5 clearly goes far beyond what they've done with the looks of the PS1-PS4. You'd almost think a designer of modern art created it. Some quite like it, some not so much. There's always the downside if you go too far over the top.
The PS5 case design does remind me of the PS3 case design, but with a twist, literally. The twist being it's still plenty impressive while remaining affordable this time around.
PS1 - ! - We must build a console that can alert our enemies.
PS2 - @- We must build a console that offers online living room gaming.
PS3 - #- We must build a console that’s powerful, social, costs and does everything.
PS4 - $- We must build a console that’s affordable, charges for services, and pumps out exclusives.
PRO -%-We must build a console that's VR ready, checkerboard upscales, and sells but a fraction of the money printer.
PS5 - ^ -We must build a console that’s a generational cross product, with RT lighting, and price hiking.
PRO -&- We must build a console that Super Res upscales and continues the cost increases.
