In large parts of Asia and in Eastern Europe, for instance, it is still the "it" console.

Good point. I've also heard that in Brazil, because of *extreme* taxation, the PS2 is the only viable console, and is still about $250 US. 150% tax rate on non-Brazilian electronics FTL.

Yeah, ironically enough, electronics are even more expensive than in the West in some of the poorest countries in South America and Europe...

I almost did...

I was at the Sony Outlet store in Niagara Falls last weekend, and saw a stack of refurbished PS2's for $78 (canadian)..

$78!! Its less than what I spend on coffee over two weeks.

It's $200 here, with a memory card... and PES. We are also quite taxed (Israel). I bought my first in early 2003 for $400.

PS2 is big in the poorest countries.
And dirt cheap.

Third World Countries or people buying them to send to relatives in in other countries. In many of these countries bootlegging is rampant also.

But also as we saw in the NPD it's selling in the US as well.

thesource.com retail some of its games for less than a $1 in canucks!

hobos basically

go to the ghetto, check em out