Well, its not totally "nothing" now is it? You can still connect it online to update your games and get content for them. If the updates and content are free (I know I know, rarely) that's even better. You can have a friends list too I remember. Unless that's changed since the last time I had Silver in 06.

:Can't play games online on my online enabled gaming console.

Fixed. That's like being 16 years old, having a car, and being mad you can't drive it because you don't have your license yet.

Let's not argue about this, because its going to bring out a bunch of PC gaming arguments I don't care to argue about. You bought the console to play games- it does that. It also plays them online if you can meet the requirements. Its not like you were sold a product and got lied to about it.

:Why should I be subjected to adverts, then?

Because that's the model of free to play.

Play angry birds to your hearts content- tired of those ads that pop up every round? Buy the premium version.

XBL is really no different.

Does that mean I like it? No. But it is what it is.

I don't have a PS3 so I won't pretend to know what Sony's stuff is like online, but even if they don't have ads *right now*, whats to say its going to remain that way?

The one constant I hear from my friends who own both, is that PSN is like a free pizza: even if its bad its still pretty good.

The gap in service/experience for XBL v PSN may be closing, but I think that also means they'll just be mirrors of each other, no real major differences other than exclusive games (for now) and controllers. Bleh. Boring.