It's beginning to sound more and more like people just aren't getting it. SE appears to have more or less written off the PS2 for NA region because (in the grander scheme of things), the market has left it behind as a desired platform.

Bear in mind, I'm not saying there aren't NA players that prefer it on the PS2, but as a segment of the total market, there just aren't enough people still using the PS2 here to warrant pressing new disks for it. Otherwise, you would still be seeing it offered in physical media for a reasonable price and supply. I fear the same thing may be happenning to the XB360 platform soon as well...it's getting harder and harder for people to find new discs for a reasonable price for that console. As SONY has said repeatedly, they will continue to produce PS2's for the markets where it can be done feasibly for a profit. SE appears to be following a similar approach to FFXI on the PS2. Supply and demand...Economics 101.