I'm pretty shocked the PS2 sold as much as it did. It has a handful of games I enjoy, especially in the RPG department, but not that many. I also just cannot get used to that trademark Sony controller, and don't think I ever will.

That's kind of the general ethos behind the PS2's success, there's several dozens of handfuls of games that everyone can enjoy. The snowball gets bigger.
As for the DualShock controller (pre-PS4 anyway), I wouldn't say it's strictly the best at anything (I'd give the Sega Saturn controller the edge for fighters, prefer the SNES controller for 2D platformers, and the 360 controller gets the nod for FPS), but it's arguably the only one that's a solid pick for every genre. Every other controller falls completely flat on it's face for at least one other genre.

The only way that a console ever gets to 150 million again is if it has a much broader appeal than just gamers...

Consoles have to replace cable boxes and home computers to reach those types of numbers going forward. If they do, than they will easily surpass 150 million. If they don't, they will be a niche market going forward.

Sorry for the bump!
I know there's a lot of work to take care of with christmas time and new generation consoles over here but yeah the ps2 numbers should indeed be updated;( Do not forget it please!

By the way, (fun) fact: I don't know if it's a new shipment or something but the ps2 is in stock in Amazon in a lot of countries in europe for 110euros. (just checked it for Spain, France, Germany and Italy). So, in fact, 'new units' of ps2 are still getting sold nowadays!!

Probably the greatest console ever made, I'm not sure these sales will ever be matched.

Well deserved of being the greatest and best selling console of all time.