Reuters has some last minute discussion on the high price of the PS3, as well as their plans for shipping 2 million units by December. From the article:
"'We are very comfortable with the pricing we have announced and have gotten tremendous support from retailers for that price point,' Hirai said on the sidelines of the Dow Jones VentureWire Consumer Technology Conference. 'So it is full steam ahead with the pricing of $499 and $599.'"