bit the bullet, went and got a 360.
im usually pretty skeptical of new stuff, but i gotta say im pretty blown away by it. really impressed by the jump from the ps2. i never had an original xbox, so being able to put my songs on the harddrive is quite a novelty. got PGR3 with it, didnt think it would be much good as it was a release title almost a year old now, but man its good fun. nothing beats chasing down a jag xj220 in an f40, while listening to slayer
goes well with the lcd tv, you can play a racing game from the drivers seat and its like being there.
scary thing is i havent even set up the online part yet, which is supposed to be its strongest point
also got a highly addictive game for the mrs called viva pinata, in which you pretty much make a garden and lil creatures come into it and u have to make them root and breed and keep them happy. highly amusing. only issue i can never get a go on the damned thing now

women+addictive gameplay= bad