How about a big thank you to HD DVD.

[IvanDrago]

Wait, before you ban me, hear me out.

I'm glad our side won the war, but I am also glad that Toshiba introduced HD DVD to begin with.

Why?

Competition. There is no greater thing in the world for the average consumer than multi billion dollar corporations slugging it out. If there was no competition, the corporation would dictate to the consumer on what he is getting.

If it weren't for HD DVD, there would be Blu Ray in the PS3. If it weren't for HD DVD we would still be paying $500+ for a player and $30+ for a disc. If it weren't for HD DVD, we wouldn't have gotten 5 movies in the mail for free. If it weren't for HD DVD, the MPEG-2 movie quality we got on the early releases might have become the Blu Ray standard. If it weren't for HD DVD, we wouldn't have had BOGOs.

HD DVD lasted JUST long enough to keep the BDA honest and bowed out just in time to keep J6P from completely dismissing HDM. Granted, Blu Ray prices would have come down eventually, but with no pressure put on the BDA, why should they have come down so quickly?

Thanks HD DVD for the healthy competition. You putting your best foot forward forced our Blu Boys to put their best foot forward in order to beat you.

We, the consumers, are the real winners,