To be honest, getting a console should have nothing to do with its specs. It'll play any game that comes out for it. The only thing you need to ask yourself is, Do I really like Halo and Half-Life?
Also, You don't half of the crap you listed under the 360 price.
America must really suck, as for £225, you can get an xbox 360 elite, with half a year of xbox live, and 2/3 games, AND a play & charge kit.360: 399$
1 play and charge kit 15$
Wireless lan 60$
HD DVD Player 199$
Xbox live 1 year 60$
Total is 360 has everything the PS3 has out of the box: 733$
Also, 360s look better. Its your opinion that they look crap. Its also your opinion that they fail.
Its also has nothing to do with the specs, as any games brought out for that console will be designed for those specs.
Also, as half of it is your opinion, I shall voice mine. PS3s suck. The games mostly suck. and as for the actual consoles... They feel like they'll break if it falls onto a pile of feathers.