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Originally Posted by NatCh
My theory is that by doing that, they may have avoided (most of) the reflexive resistance to a 'locked' device, by offering an 'unlocked' device and a 'locked' content service (said locked service was needful in getting the content providers to buy into the idea). And then, once folks have the devices, they decide that maybe that really easy iTunes Store with the huge selection of music, isn't so bad and scary after all, and why not just buy their new stuff there after they're done ripping all their existing CDs?
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Well, iPods were out before there was iTunes... but iPods still sold like gandbusters, because of their cool look, their ease of use, and their ability to play unlocked content. When iTunes came along later, the devices were already everywhere and popular, so this was a way to add to iPod's already-established value... which I think overrided the public's resistance to a "locked" device.
Following that logic, Sony should have introduced a way-cool device that could read popular formats, get them into everybody's hands, then introduce the Connect store to add to the reader's value. Releasing the device and service together took away the chance to establish the reader as way-cool device on its own... it's public perception becomes tied to Connect, and Connect's success will impact on the reader's success to an extent. But further down the line, new reader features could serve to distinguish it beyond Connect.