Comparisons of hi-def DVD formats to DVD-A and SACD formats don't hold up because people notice visual improvements right away, and historically the buying public has largely embraced improvements in picture quality (and format convenience). Look how quickly DVD overtook VHS even though most people weren't taking advantage of the discrete digital soundtracks or using progressive scan. The DVD picture quality was still better and people liked that (and probably not having to rewind, the small size, etc.).
Also, look who's hawking HD televisions and disk players: the mass marketers. Go into a Circuit City, Best Buy, Wal-Mart, Sam's, or Costco and it's all you see. It's obvious to anyone that the picture from a Blu-ray or HD DVD player on a 1080p display is even better than what you get in a movie theater. The mass market has embraced it and is pushing it.
That was never true of SACD or DVD-A.
Also, look who's hawking HD televisions and disk players: the mass marketers. Go into a Circuit City, Best Buy, Wal-Mart, Sam's, or Costco and it's all you see. It's obvious to anyone that the picture from a Blu-ray or HD DVD player on a 1080p display is even better than what you get in a movie theater. The mass market has embraced it and is pushing it.
That was never true of SACD or DVD-A.