Uh no. It's great if you don't have enough money to buy the normal console in one sitting (which would be $200-300 plus another $50 right away for Gold). People that buy this aren't automatically ignorant.

Good deal but kinect should be just optional or choose a bigger drive.

Sorry, but yeah it is ignorant. Just like buying furniture or rims for you car from rent to own places.

You end up spending a lot more for the same item.

There are far better alternatives if you have a little patience and if you don't own the console yet, you must have patience already.

You can use layaway from kmart or simply save the money over time to purchase. Both of which allow you to keep the lower price and even get the upcoming price drop later this year.

If anyone starts saving now, they'll get a FAR better deal during xmas. Patience is all that is required.

No, it isn't automatically ignorant to go for this. That's not even up for debate so I don't want to hear anything more out of you about that.

You totally skipped over all of Nightsurge's points that were relevent. It's rumored that the included Gold will also have more services than regular Xbox Live Gold so once they announce all of the details you have to factor in those extra costs as well (if there are any). And then you have the extra 1 year warranty which I believe is around $25-40. 

And that's not taking into account if someone doesn't have enough money to fork over around $250 straight up (around $300 if they want Gold). In my current situation I'm in financially and if I didn't have a 360, this would be the absolute best way for me to go.

This whole plan is very similar to getting a two year contract for your cell phone. 

Your whole point of this not being a good idea for anyone is absolutely absurd. For most people this probably wouldn't be the way to go but for some people, it is a good fit.

Yes, the value of the contract may be increased due to extra stuff they'll throw in that is not mentioned yet.

However, ANYONE can still save their money or use the layaway feature at Kmart (very small payments that you can cancel and get full refunded at anytime) and end up paying significantly less money for the same thing later this year. Especially when you include the real price drop that will come.

It is NOT a good deal for anyone. It is simply more income for MS at a higher margin.  If you don't have the $400 now to buy all that.... then don't buy it. Save your money for a few months until you can afford it. That would be the responsible and intelligent path forward. You'll likely save well over $100 and not be forcing yourself into a two year contractual payment. You never know what could happen in those two years. Maybe you lose your job and that $15 is simply not available to you.

its a good deal for some one who wants to play something today. sure you can save and wait, but that can be said of anything. many people do not want to wait and for them this will work. I agree after seeing how cheap you found the 360's its not a great deal. but for those with no patience it is an option. How does this compare to buying it with a credit card and making payments on that? that is their other option. or save like you said.

This is a terrible deal for anyone. No one is even mentioning the fact that anyone gullible enough to buy into this new bundle would most likely go over the two-year subscription. So add in extra years of $15/mo. and you end up with a scam. It's not a good deal at the initial 2-year period, and beyond that you'd just be making monthly donations to Microsoft. If you enjoy having money taken from you, then it's the deal of the century! :)

don't worry,if Sony follow it will be good deal

Oh, I though that the 99 bucks were for the bundle, and that IF you signed to xboxlive they would charge you more monthly.

In other words if I get it right, the WHOLE bundle does not cost 99 bucks?? What an idiotic offer.

sounds like a good business model and it kind of ensures people will stick to the console as I imagine only few people would actually abandon sth they still have to pay for monthly