Niode wrote: If say, my plasma TV developed a fault (a much more comparable purchase) then yes, I would expect some kind of good will gesture due to the inconvenience they have caused me.
Beyond a quick, free repair? If so, then we've reached our impasse.
I see the problem as egregious, sure, but it's not one where you are owed money/compensation beyond a quick fix (unless it's for obvious rentals and that kind of thing). Should Sony give you something extra for that inconvenience? Sure - it's probably not a bad idea from a PR angle. Even MS gives you a 1-month Live coupon every time you get a repaired RROD back. But do they owe it to you or should it be expected? No.
Hatta wrote:If the toaster manufacturer builds in a network requirement and my toaster breaks because of a failure on their end, then yes I do expect compensation. There's no reason I can't make toast without checking in with the manufacturer, and there's no reason to be locked out of single player games because the PSN network is down. There are only two explanations, incompetence or malfeasance. Apply Hanlon's razor as necessary, either possibility is worthy of compensation.
Neither the problem or the lock out of single player games is because the PSN is down. The problem is due to the problem caused by firmware in a particular part (as explained above). Yes, this is a huge oversight and problem: I don't want to sound like I am defending Sony. BUT they don't OWE anyone any kind of monetary compensation (except in the case of lost rentals), they just owe a fix!