They never had a free headset slated in the past. This is my point. Sony had a shitty headset but at least they gave something back. 

Yeah, I know. No complaints there and that was a big issue with Sony that people had to purchase their own, but of course they weren't thinking about that part of gaming in the slightest and had to learn how to adapt. MS knows better and in the past they weren't giving away the headset with the console. It was after the unboxing it was revealed that they also pulled a 180 on the headset.

http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2013-08-08-xbox-one-will-include-a-headset-after-all-microsoft-confirms

Man, have you guys every heard of rechargable batteries.  There hasn't been a moment that I can think of that I did not have batteries ready to go because the ones that are used up get put into the charger.  I have had plenty situations where the Dualshock is flashing at me or spent and I had to hook it up to the cable and wait at least 10 mins or better before use.  Not really all tha big of a deal either way but the battery options fit my home better because my kids never change the Dualshock.

I am shocked that you think Sony gets a pass for not including a headset but MS "should have known better". Also, we all know the Xbone now includes a headset. My post was directed at your line of thinking that MS only decided to include a headset thanks to "Sony's influence". I simply wasn't sure if you were aware that you could go out today and buy a MS console that does in fact come with a headset. Your post suggested otherwise.

Also, if MS's decision to include a headset was purely reactionary to Sony's headset, I think the headset they included would be more along the lines of what Sony is offering. aka something that looks like I'd be throwing in the trash and upgrading to a real headset with day one.

It’s interesting how people see things.  I see the headset Sony is putting within the PS4 as a piece of garbage.  It looks cheap and it probably is very cheap for them to make and put into the console.  When I look at the X1 headset, it actually looks like a headset.  It looks like MS spent some money and time designing it.  If you go by MS, they have improved the quality of the sound sent and received to the headset and it also appears they are taking this piece of equipment serious.

I can understand why MS did not include the headset within the X1.  It doesn’t look like some crap put into the console to tick off a box.  They probably did spend money on it and are looking for a return.  I will say since MS started last gen with a headset, they pretty much set a tradition so the expectation would be that the X1 would also include a headset.  This is probably the main reason they decided to go ahead and eat the cost more than because Sony decided to include a 2 dollar headset with their console.

If MS is to blame for not including a headset with the X1 then I believe Sony should be given enough flack for including a crappy headset with their box just to tick off a list of features. 

Microsoft brought PC gaming over to console gaming (literally companies and customs outside of a keyboard and mouse). Sony wasnt about that at the time and yes it was considered a downside to their offerings with the PS3. Many people had to go out of their way to buy headsets and slowly but sureloy that community of headset owners is growing on PSN. It was a downside just as much as anything else like a lack of cross chat and other things. A lot of people have headsets now and better now than never. MS brought the concept over from a community where it was already thriving from online gaming, thus they knew better. 

Roughly the same charge time as the Xbox 360 according to the article out of IGN.

I never said Sony gets a pass, who gave them a pass? I am saying MS on that front should continue the boxing method because much like Nintendo introduced games via bundling process they bundled headsets to give console gamers the experience PC gamers always get. They pull a 180 on the headset no doubt. Don't get me wrong, I appreciate all of it, but when it all piles up it has to irk a person somewhat, especially when that brand is your primary. Again, Sony never got a pass at all, in fact its one of the things no one could ever argue in Sonys defense in an argument about the pros and cons abou the 360 vs the PS3.

You've never once whined about Sony not including a headset on this forum and yet you have made plenty of posts about MS not including one. Please do not try and deny that you are giving Sony a free pass. Kind of like you bitch constantly about MS "upping the price tag" or whatever yet you never mention Sony when they do the same thing. The headset issue on PS3, the Vita memory card issue just to name a couple. I am not saying everyone gave Sony a pass. I am saying you gave Sony a loyalty free pass ;)

Regarding the bolded, why? What a terrible way to go through life, seems very bitter. If you had an issue with these policies, they're changed now. You should be happy. You continuing to be PMS'y about them says you are just going to find issues to bitch about regardless.

I think the PS4 headsets are garbage too, but luckily for me Sony allows the old headsets to carry over to the new console. Its not understandable why MS didnt put it in the PS4, all we know is Sony set the example and they followed, case closed and its a nice headset too.