Tell us how it's meaningful for the PS3 if it passes the 360 at this point in the generation and what changes we would see.  I could tell the Wii was dominating for example at the start of this generation simply by the amount of people that wanted one and the shortages I saw.  Tell me what changes I should expect to see at Gamestop and Walmart if the PS3 passes the 360.

Not here to attack the 360, so I won't address anything concerning it.

It does actually change how the generation played out, to this point 360 has more sales than PS3. In the end, this probably will not be the case. If you think 2nd and 3rd place are interchangeable, you've a strange stance on competition.

It's historical for the PS3. Looking back upon this particular generation years later, the World will know which console sold the most units (Wii) followed by 2nd place (be it PS3 or 360) and 3rd.

Moving forward (I guess this is what you're getting at), Sony can claim that it once again outsold Microsoft's console even though it released a year after the competition. 

You missed the point entirely. No one is in here attempting to downplay MS success, it has done VERY well. What I do see is people downplaying the success of Sony in outselling the 360 every year it's been on the market save 2008, and the ultimate passing of the 360 in total sales. 

PS3 passing the 360 isn't meaningless either. Arguing that is incredibly dense. It's historical, just as the Wii dominating this generation and MS proving itself this generation. One event does not diminish another.

There is some subjectivity in regards to success, but facts are unbiased and not without meaning. 

How so? 360 passing Wii would be just as hollow as PS3 passing 360. I am using the same principles for both cases. After holiday 2013 any gains by anybody become irrelevant and hollow. The gamers will have moved on.

Id hardly call that stealing the spotlight. I never heard of a one console generation. Gamecube and Xbox became discontinued, PS2 is the winner and you move on.

Again I think your confusing a console selling well with its generation going strong. PS2 had staying power, but its gen ended in 2006. To be as simple as I can, despite its staying power, its spotlight was taken off when all 3 next gen consoles hit the market. PS2 still had some steam left, but was an afterthought compared to the combined gen of 360, Wii, and PS3.

But I seriously do wish there was a solid consensus.

In your world with your made up rules you move on, but here in the real world we understand that as long as a console gets developer support and is still selling, it's sales matter. 

Exactly. 

But I see he's still trying to spin it.

What am I trying to spin?  As the topic states what will be the big deal?  Can you name even one thing that will change if someone walked into a Gamestop if it happens?  Just one to prove that it is meaningful in any way.  If you can't name something then I stand by my point that it is meaningless and just something that some Playstation fans are desperately hoping for to try to spin what has actually happened this generation (lost marketshare, loss of clout with third parties, etc).

Nono, more like the race ended with Wii taking 1st and 360 2nd. The people left the stadium and went to the next one to see the next race. PS3 is basically running by itself with nobody watching and its competitors allready left for the showers, pretending that the race is still going. It takes 2nd place, but only in its mind :P

Point, most gamers see the generation ending when all new consoles come out. Continuing to sell /= generation still going. It sells but it currently isnt the most current, or relevant generation