Yeah... introducing PSOne and PS2, pushing Sony to finally become aggressive on LCD TV technology (Sony's joint-venture with Samsung for LCD panels development and the strong push for LCD technology and OLED tech. came during the Kutaragi years [and Sony Electronics massively benefited from that choice which had been delayed far too long]) after strong resistance from leaving the CRT TV sector and move into the present, consolidating Sony corp's various semiconductor units, offloading the SCE fabs to Toshiba, managing the nVIDIA deal after... after another thing fell through, etc...
You really think that pushing Blu-Ray into PS3 was just his decision and his decision alone? Of course if the company has troubles he catches heat for it and the problems of blu-violet laser diodes (whose scarcity massively increased PS3 costs at launch) do hurt everyone who was at the helm during that time... but he is not at Sony anymore... is Sony that much better off? If you say so...
the problem here is that Kutaragi is an amazing technician but an awful businessman - and from all reports - had very little respect for any other department/senior manager at the firm.
The problem also seemed to be that the PS3 had become this runaway juggernaut that he was heading up. Did he make all the decissions? Probably not, but he certainly seemed to be carrying a lot of influence and he managed to pursuade the company to create a very costly machine (which he then price slashed pre-launch without consulting anyone! nice!)
So whilst technically he's no doubt a pioneer, i'm 100% certain left unfettered he'd have bet the farm on PS3 - and i think it would have been the firms undoing.
Also note - from day 1 , stringer said "Kutaragi's PS3 is facing problems" "Kutaragi's PS3 is this..." "Kutaragi has to address this..."
He made it pretty clear who he felt "owned" the PS3 project and the writting was on the wall for KK the second Stringer joined.
And also - Playstation - XX years of dominance - and not profitable as a venture. The Sony model (and MS model) only works if you dominate and a $600 price tag machine was suicidal.
managing the nVIDIA deal after... after another thing fell through, etc...
and again, this was spun into some "oh 2 years in the offing!" deal and not something like a late panic move!
is Sony that much better off? If you say so
I fail to see what Kutaragi would have added if he'd stayed around. With Stringer in the frame he was never going to last. Without Stringer? he'd have slashed the PS3 price and bet the company on PS3 "winning". So yes - IMO? MUCH better off without Kutaragi.