I don't see how Microsoft's reputation has anything to do with this, or what errors you think they're throwing money at. Probably because trying to make your product support every random 3rd-party standard under the sun is so easy, eh? It must be...that's why everyone is doing it.
Anyway, do you seriously think that Sony wouldn't do exactly the same thing? Do you seriously think that any company wouldn't do the same thing? Bethesda is making those decisions. They are the only ones it makes any sense to blame if you're going to insist on being mad at somebody.
Why do you keep bringing Sony up? I'm a PC and 360 owner so I'm not engaged in a war of who is the best corporation, and I'm not picking on Microsoft because I love Sony. Sony and Microsoft have an equal giant's share of bad mojo when it comes to the consumer. A decade of Windows alerted me to Microsoft's way of doing things, that was stamped with an exclamation when a couple of hundred thousand defective consoles were shipped out with full knowledge, just to get a jump on the rivals. That wasn't about good business, because they knew they had money enough to employ enough elves to handle the whole red ring exchange network, which was more efficient than the launch of the console. Doesn't stop me using Windows and owning their console, I like games, and they're the only team in town to my eyes.
I know Microsoft are in it to make money, and Sony would certainly do the same thing. My only point is if a publisher is going to commit to a launch across all platforms, then they commit to making a deal with their consumers. You don't see Ford shipping out a line of cars and only supporting a certain colour, or something. "These new alloy wheels are only available on the blue model. Sorry, didn't we mention that before you bought the red one? Our bad." The consumers across all platforms are buying the same product, and are entitled to the same support and benefits, all at the same time. :shrug: If not, expect to reap a whirlwind of complaints, and your reputation to suffer. I guess. Heh ha.
Edit: I hope this doesn't read as a passionate plea or anything. As long as my PC version arrives and works as it should I'll be happily playing FO:NV to death this weekend. I just think it's bad business and publishers deserve bad reps for spreading their product widely, and only supporting it fractionally...
...or something in better English. I'm tired. <_<