You are showing a lack of knowledge here on this subject.
The procedure to upgrade the HDD on the PS3 does not involve stripping down the complete machine internals, it does not involve complicated procedures.In fact the drive can be changed and it does not void the warranty. If you can plug in your PS3 to the TV you can upgrade the hard drive. Clearly you don't have a PS3 as you previously stated, The HDD is under a flap and you only need a philips screwdriver to change it, it is accessed from outside the machine without need to dismantle at all,or perhaps you are exaggerating the procedure to make a point. The procedure has been made simple and indeed people are encouraged to swap the drive.
People who buy a PS3 , be it for a BR player or games are also very unlikely to be your average idiot who knows absolutely nothing.
As for your MS got it right. What including a mere 20GB HDD with the cost of replacing with another clip on one being a rip off. Course they did.
Edit
A link with pretty pictures
http://www.ukdynasty.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=54431I assure you I have a PS3, I wouldn't be wasting my time on here otherwise. And I do know the procedure of changing it's hard drive. You are missing a key element here and give too much credit to the general consumer. Most have not even see what a hard drive looks like, much less having the bravado to attempt fitting one - even if it is only 1 screw. And game consoles are mass market products, not a geekfest.
The average PS3 guy cannot go to his local video game store, look at the peripherals shelf and buy a PS3 hard drive to plug into the machine. The mindset is simply not there to go to lengths beyond than. Sony understands this, why do you think they are suggesting a peripheral hard drive?
It's the same exact reason Live is full of chatty bastards. Where I come from we don't get headsets as standard with the pack. But that is eliviated by the fact you can buy an xbox branded one next to the controllers and battery packs, (and hard drives) etc. The only effort involved is handing over the cash - which is what consumers do.