I’m not sure what you mean by backwards compatibility of launch PS3s. At launch the PS3 had PS2 hardware backwards compatibility in both models (20GB and 60GB).

I’m not sure what you mean by backwards compatibility of launch PS3s. At launch the PS3 had PS2 hardware backwards compatibility in both models (20GB and 60GB). The launch PS3 is the ultimate backwards compatibility console (imho). Later revisions removed that hardware but provided software emulation for PS2 (except it seems like they removed that at some later date). A launch PS3 and PS5, both unmodded, will allow you to effectively play every PS console game (not portable) made since 1995. I have several Xbox games that have to be played on original hardware and are not supported by backwards compatibility, and Nintendo only ever supported previous systems when they did offer backwards compatibility. You missed Sony removing Other OS, SACD playback, and other on the box features from the PS3. I still have no idea how they got away with that.