Just curious. It seems like the solution to a lot of bugs I've had has been to open up the console and fix it with a command. Do the console manufacturers just not allow access to this stuff? Or is there some other reason why? Is it just too difficult to implement on a console? (I imagine typing with the crummy 360 virtual keyboard would be somewhat of a pita)
Not too difficult, no. Just allow users to plug in a USB keyboard. That's not the problem.
The problem is Sony and Microsoft, and their official stance on leaving debug tools in games.
For both, discovering any debug tools remaining in the game when submitted is an automatic FAIL. They chuck the game out of submission, order the debug tool to be removed, and then force the developer to pay for a second submission.
It's a zero tolerance situation, sadly. Very specifically breaks both manufacturers rules, and therefore unless at some point they choose to change those rules thecommand console will never be allowed in a console game on either platform.