[gekko]

Why don't I want it, same reason I didn't want it on PS2, it just took a few years for everyone else to realise it's worthless. When journalists look back on this generation, it will be looked at as a failure, along with Microsoft's first controller, Gamecube's Z-button, Gamecube's discs, and PS2's launch.

First reason not to have it, it's not needed. The people who already own the system can go back and play the games they already own, on the system they already own. News flash, it's already paid for, you are not losing anything by keeping it. Selling a system like PSX when a new backwards compatiable system was just released is going to get you even less money than normal, so why bother? Just hang on to it. Now for the people who didn't own that system, by the time it's successor has been released, the system is pretty much the price of the game. Especially this generation with Gamecube, it could easily be $49.99 when the new system comes out. For the few people who will actually go back and buy old games, they can buy the damn system, too. Most people will not go back and play their old games on a regular basis, and if they do once or twice, good for them, but it's not reason enough to include backwards compatibility.

Second reason not to include it is that it hinders innovation. Look at Xbox, DC, and N64, they all have a multi-feature port on the controller, which is also used for memory cards. What if Sony or Nintendo wanted to do that? Oh wait, they can't. They have memory card card ports on the system that read, well, memory cards. Sony worked around this by adding USB ports for their accesories. Is that the best way to do? Maybe, maybe not. Either way, you're stuck with those damn memory card slots. And say Nintendo decides that they want to include a HD next generation, but still have memory cards for transfering and backing up saves. Say they wanted to use an existing format, nothing proprietary. Say they decide they want to use SD cards, and they just wanted to add a little slot in the controller that you could stick it in. Well they can't exactly do that, because they're stuck with that big fat memory card port from the previous generation. Same if Sony wanted to use their memory sticks. You have the same problem if you want to make radical changes to the controller.

And the third reason not to include it, it costs more money. You think the new Nintendo system will just magically read Gamecube discs? Think again. You'll be paying for a second laser to be included, and then not all the hardware will be compatiable. If the OpenGL used in Gamecube is different than what they use in the new system and they're not compatiable, you will have problems. And if I remember correctly, Sony had to include a PSX processor into PS2 because PS2's processors require unique coding and PSX games won't run on it, even though it had more than enough processing power to handle the game.

If they want to throw in extras, don't put in something when you're entire current userbase already owns in. Put in something that most people don't have yet, like HD-DVD.