I don't think that the PS2 is handicapped by its staggered launch. Sony had problems to manufacture enough units during the first year, so even if the PS2 would have launched worldewide in March 2000, the numbers wouldn't have looked any different.

that isn't 100% true, but it is partially true. Had they planned to launch WW, they would have had more factories from the start rather than just factories for Japan. Also, they would have been working on resolving the shortage problem sooner rather than later.

Either way you slice it though, the Wii is the fastest selling console ever. It is even slightly ahead of the almighty DS. Although, I think it will fall slightly behind this year, as it can't possibly sell 30m/year as they aren't producing that many.

Really interesting.  Could you also do the 2nd & 3rd place consoles?  Like Xbox vs 360 and GC vs PS3?  And maybe each of the handhelds vs GBA?

you could do it and post the results. All the information is freely available on this website (well, back to the PS2 geneartion anyways). I can't do it any faster than you, and you are the one who is interested

There were still big shortages during the American launch, so I don't buy your excuse. You are only trying to paint a prettier picture for Sony by covering up their incompetence. It's not Nintendo's fault that Sony couldn't produce more PS2s, therefore a worldwide launch aligned comparison over a time period of more than three years is absolutely fair, even though the PS2 was only available in one territory for about half a year.

The next thing you are going to argue is that the PS3 had a huge disadvantage due to its later launch in Europe, but that's exactly the same situation. Had the PS3 launched worldwide, its numbers wouldn't have looked any better, because there weren't enough consoles available anyway. The staggered launch didn't hurt the PS3 at all, just like it didn't hurt the PS2.