Why would they consider it a failure? Need we remember the Blu-ray vs HD DVD war not too long ago? Had Sony decided not to include a Blu-ray player in the PS3 OR had the 360 decided to include an HD-DVD on the actual 360 that war might have shaped up a little differently. The PS3 on it's own won that format war for Blu-ray and that in itself is enough for Sony to consider the PS3 a success.
Why would they consider it a failure? Need we remember the Blu-ray vs HD DVD war not too long ago? Had Sony decided not to include a Blu-ray player in the PS3 OR had the 360 decided to include an HD-DVD on the actual 360 that war might have shaped up a little differently. The PS3 on it's own won that format war for Blu-ray and that in itself is enough for Sony to consider the PS3 a success.