From the interviews, I'm getting the impression that Carmack isn't doing all that much hands on stuff anymore, but rather works on core technologies (like solving details of his infinite texture concept), mostly on PC, which is then worked out by the several teams of youngsters under his command. Id software does not have any sort of reputation on console hardware at all, really - they've so far never been a match for Halo or even Socom.
Apart from that, I think he's wrong on several accounts. First of all, he doesn't take the lifespan of consoles into consideration. The benefit of a console is that games get better over time, because the improvements come from better use of hardware and related technologies, not from hardware upgrades. JC's comment suggests he believes that console games require mostly generic routines in high-level programming languages. But Sony has proven before that if you give developers a chance to distinguish themselves by making the most of low-level programming, they will. And by now, developers have learnt this and make sure that they get the low-level stuff down from day one. Publishers like EA have two teams, one working on developing a generic engine for the 360, and the other for the PS3. While the developers who don't want to invest in too low-level programming can make use of extensive middle-ware programs, up-to complete integrated solutions like EPIC's Unreal Engine. But thosee middle-ware programs are able to make the most of the platform specific features.
JC does however recognise the higher peak power of the PS3, and does to some extent see that Sony can probably get away with it because of its market position. Though he still says it is a mistake, he does probably start to understand the console platform better. I personally think that the PS3s success is almost guaranteed because developers have taken the stance that they will have to take full advantage of the PS3 to compete, so they are making big investments right now and they will pay off both in terms of software sales and PS3 adoption rate.
But most of all, I think his comments are given a lot more attention than they deserve. Something which I'm personally guilty of. Comments from developers actually working with the hardware are and have always been more interesting.
