This reminds me of when the X-Box 360 came out. Everyone rushed out to buy it, there was a massive shortage and people resorted to anything (even eBay) to get one. After the launch, there were tons of complaints about the system crashing and not functioning properly.
Writing a letter to Sony asking them if their product is worth it is basically a waste of time. Sony doesn't care about the consumer; all they care about is making a profit. If your product stops working, great buy a new one is their philosophy. The $499 price is not outrageous for Sony to charge because people will buy it. It's the public that really sets prices.