Yes, reading through some internet reports, it seems like some blu-ray players are able to play the disc with no problems, but it's not for lack of applying the latest firmware. Even in cases where the latest firmware was applied, the discs still would not play.
I think the venturer will have to plummet in price to $149 if they expect to sell any. If wal-mart were putting them in their stores, people would buy one simply because it is there. People at Target may still do the same, assuming target keeps the other HD-DVD player at $300-350.
Theres still a lot to be said for having your products in a B&M. Some people still aren't hip to Internet sales, as was proven by my trip to Best Buy yesterday. DDR2 RAM, LCD Monitors, Audio Cables, Movies and music, all twice as much if not more than you could buy off the internet, were being swallowed by the hordes on a Saturday. Me, I was just trying to kill some time while my SO and here friends were buying bridal shower gifts.
I did get a chance to check out the sony DAV-IS system
http://crave.cnet.com/8301-1_105-9722252-1.html
This is the one with the golf-ball sized speakers. Wow, what a joke. Basically, all the sound was coming from the subwoofer. Just buy a pair of traditional speakers, and hide them under your coffee table.