About a year ago, backwards-compatible 80GB PS3s were still being sold in stores. I chose to buy a 40GB model because I wasn't sure what would happen if it broke after they stopped manufacturing. Now, I know.

An anonymous TAWKN.com user just called me, distraught. His PS3 has been at Sony's repair center for three weeks now. He bought the 80GB PS3 with backwards-compatibility. Today, he called in to get a status update, and was told that it was beyond repair, and, because Sony doesn't make that model anymore, that they can't replace it, despite the fact that he bought four years' worth of Sony Care extended warranty for it, for a total of five years. They offered to give him a new model 80GB PS3. 

He argued with them that he is not just losing a PS3, but PS2 support (that's over 1900 PS2 games that he can no longer play), extra USB ports, plus the built-in card readers. Sony's reply? Too f@#$ing bad. 

This guy is very angry at Sony, and rightfully so. They didn't offer him anything but a far inferior model than what he bought about 12 months ago, which he says is unacceptable - and I agree. 

At the VERY least, they should be trying to make up for this to him and other users who paid $100 extra for a console that has only one life left to live. If I were in his situation, I'd be demanding either a few oood free games, or a consolation package consisting of: a USB hub, USB memory card readers, PS2 slim, and PS2 component cable. 

"If I wanted to go through this much bullshit, I would have bought an Xbox." 

Ouch. Understand, I've talked with this guy over the years, and he was instrumental in my own purchase of a PS3. If Sony doesn't remedy this in some manner, I don't think he'll be helping sell their products anymore. 

Of course, if they released a firmware tonight with complete software-based PS2 support for all PS3s, then the blow might not be so bad. 

If there are any developments, I'll be sure to update.

 http://www.tawkn.com/?news_id=1708

Has anybody else heard anything like this?