i think if the use of CDs came with a different controller i could see Sony and Nintendo selling roughly the same amount of units.
the more people io talk to over the years the more people i find had an issue with the controller.

sure that didnt stop a lot of people from buying the thing but it was definitely a part of its sales i'm sure.

I didnt buy a N64 new because of the controller, and when i got my playstation it was the first dual shock bundle that was available