Blu-ray player prices

[Negativecool]

(Noob alert). Hi all, new member, although not really--I should have signed up a long time ago. I've been following blu ray and this site since I learned what blu ray was back when the PS3 was announced in E3 2005.

A question I had (which I'm not sure if it has been asked yet even with a forum search) is when doyou think blu ray will match HD-DVD's price in all or most of its players. (excluding the PS3 and its eventual price drop(s))
As much as many don't like to admit it, hd dvd isn't dead yet, and its price is a big reason why. So when will hd dvd's biggest draw be countered?
Price may not be as big of an issue with some of you, but I’ll be starting my masters next year, and my wife is currently getting her PhD…so we’re going to be students for quite a bit longer with few funds for anything. I would love to see a BD player drop below the $200 mark---but don’t lose track of my original philosophical question of when will blu ray MATCH or possibly dip below that of hd dvd.

Another thing I've never really been straight on is why hd dvd (beyond the cheaper price)? Is there some level of interactivity that trumps that of blu ray, some software that blu ray has no answer to? I only ask because thus far I haven't been able to figure out how the HD DVD camp has been so confident in the shadow of all the blu ray supporters.

Thanks all, love the site and go Blu ray!