My 2 centavos on the XB1 and the PS4

Both will be excellent at their respective focus.

With the XB1, MS needed to explain that they are merely adopting a PC distribution model for content, and that the 24 hour "check-in" is just an account validation tool a la Steam, Origin, Blizzard, etc. By allowing content providers to control more tightly the distribution channel, both piracy and secondhand sale profit losses are mitigated, allowing for new games to retail cheaper off the bat. I would expect that games from publishers will retail on a sliding scale, comparable to PC, and the title prices will scale almost real-time to the demand for the game. Micro-adjustment and flash sales allow for revenue streams to be more constant to the developers.

Additionally, the computational offloading allowed by the Azure platform will drastically increase the realism and interactivity in several games. Imagine a Skyrim with a completely destructible game world and no loading times anywhere. No pop ins. Server side patches and content additions. A Madden or NCAA game in which the crowds and sideline AI are handled offsite, allowing for better instantaneous AI from the players on the field.

MS is just moving in the direction that Sony eventually will, and that's not a bad thing. If your console sits in your living room and you have a dedicated internet connection, there shouldn't be a problem.

For me personally, I'm liking the Kinect 2 potential and the media passthrough. I'll use alot.

If you're a gamer on the go, then the PS4 makes sense. It's a freer platform to operate with. That will serve some people better than the XB1. Eventually though, once people get over the stigma of the content license vs ownership and the daily check in, MS could have an advantage in the services that come along with those requirements.