I think we are still going to get units with and without disc be it for PS5 Slim or PS6, it will be the same SKU but one will be fully integrated on the chassis (different cover) and the other more like a add-on. Question will be how well streamlined the proposition will be. It could even be a slot like PS2 modem or how we installed extra HD space on PS3/4.

He basically wants to see if Sony should make a capped PS6 to reduce price.

Not true.

Nintendo has the DS+DSi line with it's increase in RAM, faster CPU.

That's....   a really interesting suggestion, actually!  First speculation I've heard about the Series S potentially being the foundation for a future Xbox handheld.  Huh.

I agree with your points, but disagree with your conclusions.  You say the new architecture is more expensive to manufacture.  That can be true, but only if it's truly leading edge architecture.  Zen 2 and RDNA 2 are very good, but not quite leading edge compared to absolutely top-end PC components.  However, the new architecture being more efficient means the chips themselves are more expensive, but Series S gets better overall performance than the One X despite having less RAM, less memory bandwidth, etc.  So the new CPU/GPU might be more expensive, yet the system itself might be cheaper overall once you factor in the savings with the memory, the buses, etc.  One X was also a niche product, where Series S is a mass market product, and that further confuses the issue.

Your observation that Microsoft is losing money on the Series S doesn't disprove any of the above, since we don't know how much money they were making/losing on the One X.  And in any case, the One X was sold at a higher MSRP than the Series S, with further obfuscates things.

When it comes to software support, I continue to see evidence that it's a little bit of both.  Yes, the huge installed base of units is a contributing factor, and the fact that the system is still on sale is a contributing factor.

I can't find anyone who said this who you might be quoting, so it appears that you've manufactured quotes.

If you're referring to anything I said, the PS5 Digital Edition doesn't meet the criteria I listed because I was specifically referring to either keeping last-gen consoles around as a budget option, or having a less powerful version of the new architecture around as a budget option.

$400 USD is not the traditional price range of a budget console, if you can even find it for that (they're hard to find generally, and are usually $460 bundled with a game if you do find one).  It's genuinely a cheaper price than the one with the optical drive, sure.  But that's nothing new, and not what I created this thread to talk about.  $300 or less is more the traditional budget range in this industry.

Fair.  I meant, started the trend with home game consoles.  If you want to go down that road, though, the DSi didn't start it with handhelds, the Game Boy Color did.  :)

I dunno why we should consider X1X for this instead of let's say base PS4 since we are talking about making a cheaper model for 2 SKUs instead of keeping crossgen support. There is no question based on the data we have that having the base model (and possibly even the pro, but that wasn't the focus anyway on the crossgen, it isn't pro plus nextgen, it was base plus nextgen the pro only is supported by default in the end) after all the cut in costs (even if they gone and gave another pricecut) will be cheaper to manufacture than the entry level next gen for a few years at least.

Let's make an imagination exercise. Series S is estimate to lose up to 200 USD per HW sold (I guess Series X lose 100USD or possibly less... Phil Spencer said they lose 100 to 200 on every console sold) on the 299 pricetag so cost would be likely 499 to manufacture Series S, X1X was always sold at profit (MS said it was luxury/enthusiastic product so always sold at profit even on launch, same for PS4Pro) starting at 499 so after several years in the market it likely dropped manufacturing cost and would at least lose less money than Series S (but sure a much less capable machine at that).

Considering PS5 has sold more than Xbox 4, I would say no... because it's unnecessary. If PS5 starts falling behind, then maybe. That's sort of how the gaming business works, or has worked, anyway.

A weaker console from launch is just not a good idea. Let's see how the Series S holds up in 2025...
The only reason I can see for Pro consoles this gen is a ray trace model to be able to hit 60 fps in ray trace mode.

At launch different storage options are the best way to offer cheaper alternatives. Next gen SSD prices should be a lot more affordable not to have to charge a huge premium for 2tb at launch. So likely a bigger difference next gen between the premium disc model and the cheaper digital edition.

The PS5 still isn't readily available, demand remains high despite the price having gone up. So why shoot yourself in the foot by adding a different spec SKU doubling QA work, optimization efforts etc.

They've been going with a pro series since last gen (and slim versions since PS1), why stop now?.