Sony has a long history of beating its own drum when it comes to media formats (anyone remember the Elcaset?) Few, however, have managed to cling on quite as stubbornly as the MiniDisc.
If I were a product manager, the most orgasm-inducing fantasy ever would be a product with instant obsolescence — just buy it and throw it away. Were I a product manager with such an immediately disposable commodity, ah, be still...