If I can get enough extra cash together id do this test.

Just installed MGS4 on my slim, was MUCH faster.

wow that's a big difference in the DMC download! So the slim is not only less expensive, smaller, better looking, but also faster. Cool.

but wait, umm errr...., IT doesn't HAVE BACKWARDS COMPATIBILITY!!! ZOMG DO NOT BUY IT!!! ITS THE DEVIL!!    (that's what the people sound like who still complain about no BC 3 years after launch when the PS3 has enough good games to not need BC)

Well, now that you ask me, the answer is "maybe yes". My PS3 is a 60gb one, so it generates much hot for itself. However, when I changed the HDD I didn't notice any issue with the heat. As a matter of fact, my room is quite small and it gets hot quickly, but the PS3 doesn't seem to care about it. Nevertheless, the performance increases with shorter loading times. For Example, the XMB-in-game comes up quicker, and games load much faster (in Far Cry 2 the difference was about about 6 seconds faster).

If you are worried about reliability, my brother and a cousing both also have a 7200 rpm HDDs and they are fine! They're happier with their PS3s actually.

^^I have heard that a slow to boot up PC once cost an ex co-worker a rather lucrative contract.

So I guess in some rare circumstances speed helps.

In the case of a console I agree it makes little or no difference. At least to me anyway.

It appears to debunk the claims that the slim loads slower.  Though if it only was 2 seconds slower or 2 minutes longer installs for slim, you'd surely enter a thread to say 'who cares'?