For the BD drive to cost $100, like 90% of that has to be the laser. Decoding and controller logic are handled by Cell and RSX. The spindle motor isn't exotic, and shouldn't need liquid bearing or anything (though I'll be honest and note that I haven't scoured the white papers for an actual rpm). The laser (lense assembly including laser and pickup) is the only thing that should be significantly different, as all optical drives are pretty damn modular. I don't have a BD drive in front of me, but the basic principles behind how these drives work hasn't changed since the first CDs hit the market back in the day. I honestly don't know how the cost of the drive consistently gets quoted as being around $100, when AFAIK, even the PS1 and PS2 never had greater drive costs than $50 at worst. Is that $100 factoring in the R&D, b/c I find it hard to believe that the cost of making an optical drive with the only major change being the laser housing would double. Prior manufacturing knowledge should be scaling the prices of all legacy components, which should be what most of the BD drive is made of. PEACE.