Choices are fine and everything, but who wants to buy something now that in a year will be the crappy version? We all know how the console cycle works and we know that the systems will come way down in price. This latest sku scheme Microsoft and Sony are playing seems to be a way around that, but I think it will fail. It is like they believe that they can continue to charge premium prices throughout the console's life span if they just keep releasing a new/better model. That is a strategy that will fail. I think that may even be a talking point during the next generation. Console makers will brag about having only one sku....and a sub $400 price tag.

Microsoft has screwed up since the beginning offering a console without an HDD. Sony's basic concept for their SKUs at least allows devs to use the HDD when needed. Sony may bump up the amount of space of the HDD but who cares. Also the 80GB version is a bit more worth it with Motorstorm included. If theres a price drop it will be even more worth it. 

I'm waiting for the 10GB PS3 with Rumble Controllers and blu-Ray taken out to save even more money Bundled with a real game for $200 dollars, lol.

I'm also waiting for the Xbox 360 "God Song" edition which comes with gold leaf trim and fixes problems we didn't even know the 360 had yet bundled with a copy of Master Chief's personal journal, childhood photo, lock of hair, birth certificate and rotating helmet mounted on top of the the 360 for $600 dollars.

Yeah the way I look at it everytime sony realise a new version of the ps3 the price moves back up to $600. yep most gamers understnad this but to the general public it looks like there isnt a price cut at all. most ppl dont care or understand the difference between a 60g and 80g

also the fact that will have been 3 or 4 different versions of the ps3 out and it hasnt even been out for a year is just completely stupid IMO

 and think we missed out on 2 other SKUs because Sony decided not to release them due to cost. 20GB and 60GB models without an EE/GS.

Consoles just aren't $75 anymore. It makes sense to give customers that are willing to pay more $$$ what they want as well as the ones that just want the basics. The diversity in computer specs isn't keeping you from getting one, so why would that be for consoles?

I definetly don't agree with you there. Most people have PC's and understand the reason for large harddrives and space, also look at the amount of people that own Ipods, and understand that more gigabytes = more songs.

The General public knows a decent bit about space and gigabytes I'd warrant, and it's importance.

Improving and changing a product is very common across all electronics.

And consumers like choice.

Let's not argue with Engelos. We all know why.

how's that completely stupid ?
almost nobody wanted the 20 GB, so it's discontinued / unavailable.
And there's the 60 GB which will get phased out,
which will leave you eventually with the 80 GB model (with 2 more usb & sony memory-stick connections) and the other ( 40 GB ? ) upcoming SKU.

So you'll have a choice of 2, the normal PS3 and the cheaper one, if you really think that is stupid then I guess you don't understand the concept of customer-choice.