"Possibly my favorite bit is the $150 million slush fund payment to Paramount/Dreamworks to ensure HD-DVD exclusivity"

Not forgetting the similar Warner/Fox "alleged" $500m+ amount (which although Warner denied the amount was between two figures, never denied they got paid at all).

"You know, along with the ludicrous price reductions, this was the best evidence that someone was trying to force a format down the throats of consumers"

Like the barrage of BOGOF deals with Blu-Ray, usually timed to coincide with every big HD DVD release, and of course arguably the PS3 itself.

However, all sides paid a sh*t load of money to fight this war in one way or another. Far more than they've made in profits from sales of discs. Money down the drain in a fight that shouldn't have been (and both sides are at fault for starting it).

Now it's time to make up that money, and this is where the real challenge is. Is Blu-Ray ready to take on the 98% market share DVD has? Is it ready for mass-market and does the consumer really have a clue what it's all about anyway, even with one format?

Obviously time will tell.

What will Tosh do now though? Blu-Ray players, or abandon HD entirely?

More to the point, what of Microsoft?

What is certain though is we'll hear no end of smug satisfaction for the next few months. Hopefully this will all die away and we can actually get on and the fanboys can find another fight to argue about.