When it was launched, the PS3 could be a nice general-purpose computer. If Sony decided to reinvent the NEWS workstation series with a usable OS (Linux, BSD, a port of OpenSolaris, AIX, whatever) on top of Cell BEs with expandable RAM, a decent GPU and non-subsidized prices, I would have used it. Heck... I would buy one even today. I would help port software to it.
you're forgetting that sony was taking a loss on each PS3 sale when it first came out. they make it up on game licenses so they absolutely did NOT want to be selling to people who would buy few games.
Now it's just a gaming platform.