Well, Ars has further info on the 40GB SKU for Japan.
The big news: there will be both black... and white models of the console (with SIXAXIS to match).
This is the thread on the Japanese console:
http://forum.beyond3d.com/showthread.php?t=44801
No rumble included in box.
im very surprised to see Sony dropping BC on any PS3 model. But aslong as there still is a BC-Model available, I dont see much of a problem - you can get BC if you feel its worth paying more. Will be interesting to see what happens when the stock of 60GB Versions is cleared - will Sony brew a cost reduced 60GB Version (like the 40GB Version), but with BC left intact? I surely think and hope so.
http://www.gamespot.com/news/6181094.html?action=convert&om_clk=latestnews&tag=latestnews;title;4
40GB = 178% increase in sales.
considering the article says that 89% of the units sold were of the 60gb variety it might be better to say, threat of BC loss forces users to buy up remaining 60gb units.
I question if it's any incentive! Would anyone here spend £50 ($100) just for BC if there were no extras?
...an extra £50 (which they'd have spent anyway)...