So again...you are saying the 360 is a better ROI for developers and publishers.  This doesn't bode well for the future, since the PS3 games cost more to create, the platform cost more to produce, and they sell less software...I'm not seeing this as a solid model.  If I'm a publisher, I'm looking to make 360 games all day!

Wow the real attach ratio must be ungodly if we go by your numbers.

I have atleast 15 real life buddies who own a 360 several of them have RROD and I don't think any of them just ran out and repurchased a new 360 just because. Don't forget back when the problem was MUCH worse the system hadn't went down in price so it would have been so much more money to make the purchase as well. Other than software that is your biggest problem with your theory. Well that and your poorly attempt at rrod bashing.

+1

This.

The ones you returned for a new 360 were sent in and refurbished and then resold.  The only way the install base would be off is if someone seriously let a broken 360 sit there and rot, which really never happens as any 360 owner knows you can get it repaired for free, or sell it to people who will fix it themselves (via Ebay, craigslist, etc).

I've asked the same question the OP asked and gotten seriously attacked for it. I truly believe that the number of unique 360 users is far less than the overall sales numbers would indicate. I've read endless articles, blogs, forum posts of people that have admitted that they have simply bought new console after new console due to RROD rather than having the defective unit fixed. Suckers. All of you. Shame on you for letting a company take advantage of you and your hard earned consumer $ with their awful quality assurance procedures. The 360 sales figures will forever be artificially inflated whether or not people want to admit it.

The "real" numbers aren't gonna be that much less. Maybe a million less at the most. I recently bought an Elite to replace my crappy old Pro model so I've done my part in inflating the numbers.

A million is quite significant.

Did you have a need for a second 360 other than just a replacement for the old rrod model?  Or did you just put it up for rare/no use?

I have been tempted to purchase another 360 just because it would be much easier for me to have 2.  Not because rrod made me and I was wondering if this could have actually had some play in your decision?

I bought the Elite because my old 360's disc drive wasn't working well and anything disc drive related isn't covered by the 3 year warranty. I had to install games to the HDD just to get them to load up and work properly and I only had a 20GB HDD. That's basically why I bought a second 360- now I get a reliable machine, bigger HDD, HDMI port and a new 3 year warranty, it's the first time in forever I can use the 360 without worrying about anything.

And you will forever be an ignorant fanboy.  If you can't accept our very likely explanations for the broken units, you don't have to, but that further shows just how desperate of a fanboy you truly are.