how is that sidestepping, you asked for a data example since VHS and DVD were examples where only video is concerned, I gave you one. (or did you miss the part about floppy disks and CD-ROMS)
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you failed to address audio and the format upgrade path question

That has nothing to do with my point. My point is that BR is the better format, and caring about backwards compatibility should not even be a concern.

You can shoot yourself in the foot all day long to ensure that an old format will work in your new player, or you can come out with a completely new technology that blows the doors off of anything there is currently and force people kicking and screaming into the next big thing.

I'm not afraid of change, and yah I have several hundreds of dollars in DVDs, and yah, I got a DVD writer in my computer, but personally, I want something that is great. Not something that is so-so just so I can use my old crap in the same deal.

Just my 2 cents anyway.
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why would blu-ray players be so-so if they can read DVDs too? why can't blu-ray players and drives be great AND be able to read dvd's in the process? computer dvd drives can read dvds AND cds... there's an instance of backward compatibility.

forcing people to change isn't a good thing. computer technology is one thing. we kinda know shit is obsolete 6 months after it comes out, but home electronics where people generally buy something and hang on to it till it craps out is another thing.

and this is all coming from the guy who refuses to upgrade to pci-e. take your argument and shove it.
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Everyone just seems to be falling all over HD-DVD... I like to take the underdog position and argue.

I wont be buying either unless its part of a game console anytime soon. Nor do I care less which one "wins". Just son long as they are quick about it.

But to answer your question, why cant BR be great AND be backward compatible... because in order to be backward compatible you are constrained by its limitations. If you start from scratch then you can come up with something completely wonderful and not have to worry about things like that.
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it's just a freaking lazer... it isn't rocket surgery
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Blu Ray can be backwards compatible, in fact I think its LG that made the drive that reads HD, BR and DVD's. I call that close enough to backwards compatible. Even though the HD isnt even up to spec on that drive.
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