Sony Considered Download-Only Console At One Point

It seems as if the Playstation 3 was at one time destined to be what the PSP Go eventually came to be. In this concept, the console would, like the PSP Go, only be able to use downloaded media, and physical media like discs would not be usable. The concept would include an optical disk drive over what is currently available in the console.  This was ultimately turned down, but poses an interesting perspective on how Sony thinks.

‘People familiar with the matter’ claim that the console that will succeed the Playstation 3 has a 2013 release, which is rather soon, regardless of info that has been given by Sony themselves. Ultimately, we would hope that Sony has by now ditched the idea due to the lack of success of the PSP Go, not to mention regular internet service problems that happen to everyone. As well, the console probably wouldn’t have done too well in areas where internet service is not very good or reliable, which surely isn’t something that Sony would want.

All of these ideas sound quite interesting, especially with the ‘Playstation Orbis’ rumor having similarities with this early concept of the PS3. What do you think of this all? Are you content that Sony decided not to have this concept come true, or would you rather have a download-only console?