Actually, the system was astonishing for it's time. There wasn't a PC that could touch it and it shamed the Saturn (except for 2D shmups from Japan) and PS1. It even held it's ground graphically during the launch of the PS2, bu the sheer weight of Sony's campaign spend, coupled with Sega's (CSK) financial troubles meant that the console was doomed.
The Dreamcast was one of the most elegant systems ever built as well, easy to program, powerful, and innovative.
Umm...ok. What ever you say "genius".
Wrong on the piracy thing. It was not piracy but the over extension of CSK and the looming PS2.
@Elven6: again, the piracy scene at the time vs. the install base was not a major reason for the DC's demise. It was a concern, but it was not what sunk the Dreamcast. The money required for keeping pace in the market with PS2 was too much for Sega, given that they were also still supporting 4 other systems and services in Japan.
Sure, piracy sucked, but it is not what killed the Dreamcast. Not by a long shot.