If you're going to run a PC. You may as well run XBMC on it (like I do) and have the best multimedia player on the planet. PS3 not required.
If you have to jump through hoops to achieve playback. 99.9% of folks won't bother. Including me.
I think his point was aimed at those who have media on their PC but their PC isn't connected to the TV they want to watch it on, and that would be most people.
I personally have no urge to sit in my computer chairhos high it is pretty damn comfortable, lol) and watch a movie on my monitor when my one PC can stream my media using PS3MediaServer to my old PS3 in the living room or to my PS3/360 that is on the opposite side of the room from my PC.
Though swapping an HDD out for a cheaper 32GB SSD could be becoming viable around now.
I think going back to a smaller size wouldn't be ideal, considering the space some games take to install it would be a real hassle, with a 32GB SSD you wouldn't even be able to download a 14GB+ PS3 game because you need twice to space for the installer and the installed game.
I'm pretty sure the SSD tests show that the PS3 doesn't get a massive boost from an SSD anyway sadly, there's some strange limiting factor in it that keeps stuff at a steady rate or something.
But I'm sure someone with more knowledge can correct me.