Update:
Sony now has a shitty site which lists backward compatibility problems of the USA NTSC PS3s. Unlike the Euro sites which just list them out they require you to type in the name in the US site... possibly because of how hard this new 80GB PS3 is failing.
Examples:
Soul Calibur II
Publisher: NamcoProduct No: SLUS-20643
Description: Throughout gameplay, the title performs at a significantly slower than normal performance speed.
Soul Calibur III
Publisher: NamcoProduct No: SLUS-21216
Description: Throughout gameplay, the title performs at a significantly slower than normal performance speed.
Final Fantasy VIII
Publisher: Square EA (Square Enix)Product No: SLUS-00892
Description: Throughout gameplay, when the user's party encounters a random enemy in the "world map", and the “pre-battle” transition screen appears, approximately 40 - 60% of the “pre-battle” transition screen appears black, and the remaining portion of the screen appears corrupted.
Final Fantasy IX
Publisher: Square EA (Square Enix)Product No: SLUS-01251 / 01295 / 01296 / 01297
Description: Throughout gameplay and FMA's, when the user’s character walks up or down on screen and the camera pans up or down to follow the movement, four transparent horizontal lines appear across the screen.
All this trouble because Sony decided to cut out a chip which supposedly saves them $20 per console.
Now what console am I supposed to buy considering I'll be DAMNED if I pay monthly fees for Micro$oft's online xbox 'service'? And no, the Nintendo Urine is not an option. I wanted a PS3 to replace my dead PS2 and for the upcoming FF and SC games. Now that plan has failed and gone to shit, thanks Sony.