Where to start.....okay first off what SKU are you talking about. 20,40,60,80? I have the 80 GB. To first start off, I know everyone is probaly screaming Blue-Ray!!!! Yes Blue-Ray plays a large role in all of this. So ill explain. Blue-Ray or BR is not just HighDefinition it allows for more data to be stored on one disc and it allows for more sharp sound and pixel and detail to be used because space is not a issue.
Okay so that's BR.....Now lets talk about the processor. Its a Cell Processor, it would take I believe 8 microprocessors to do what it does. Now I don't know how to in simple terms explain this but because of the Processer and the much greater capabilities the BR disc in combination allows for much better graphics in example the water in all the games I've personally played looks much much more realistic. Also the plants, characters skin, the entire environment down to clothes, the sky a bird, wall texture are much more sharper, clearer, Cleaner etc. Etc....
Now I don't know if you knew it but the Ps1 had to this day the best Cd player in it in existence, the Ps2 from what I know was one of the top of the line dvd players, So its safe to say the The capabilities of the BR will be exceptional. Rumor is Toshiba is putting the Processor in a flat screen tv.
Okay enough about BR.
I've never heard about wars in africa or any of that. It could be true and it partly true about the ps3 console thing. Either its sony or the stores that sell them loses 20 dollars but they make it up in all the add ons and acsessories, games etc.
Now the 80 and 60Gb have backwards compatiblitly well the ones that are out right now. Good luck finding one. But don't get this information confused with the new 80GB SKU coming out it will be the same as the 40. No Backwards compatability. Only 2 USB Slots Vs. 4. No Memory stick/SD/CF inputs but will include a DS3 controller which is dualshock 3 which mean rumble and titlefeatures it will be released in Sept sony says and it will be 399.
Now games wise there's a lot of games that are coming out in next year that will have some cool new technology. Like Red Faction Guerrilla, it will feature what is called Geo mode, in short when the game was designed, it wasn't just throw a building into the game it had to be built with the right materials or when placed in the game it would collapse and the designers would have to start again everything is real...... it basically allows you to walk into a building go down into the basement take out your sledge hammer and swing at the support beam knocking it down to watch the floor above you creak and then splinter apart as the enemies fall before you and you swing at their heads as you flatten their heads between your hammer and the wall or floor. Or tear down the building around them piece by piece raining bricks down on them as you throw grenades on top of the roof sending shrapnel into the building to kill any enemies It will basically be like red faction one with the exception everything is much more interactable and destructable. Then there are ps3 exclusives which you can take the time to look up. Sony beat the 360 in the HD Wars if that doesn't say something I don't know what will. Not to mention the failure rate of a ps3 is like less then .1% compared to 360 which I believe is 33% not for sure on that.
To sum it up the ps3 is giving pc a run for their money this ps3 is basically a supercomputer. So is it better then a ps2 Heck yes anyone says other wise is either a360 fanboy or nintendo fanboy.
Oh and don't forget it has interent and a Playstation network not to mention Home will be coming out soon. Or The new trophy update. And the online servers are great so you can really enjoy online games in high def with only 2 cords a power cord and a AV cord or hmdi cord. The ps3 is the future and at some point sony will stop making ps2 games look at xbox they already stopped theirs, sony is still releasing some new games for it. If you really want to see why a ps3 is so good. Go to best buy and play a demo or play on a friends after that you prolly won't want anything else.
I hope this helps I know it sounded biased but that's all true as to my knowledge and sony's press conferences.