No audio product has ever succeeded because it was better, only because it was cheaper, smaller, or easier to use.
Syntax,
What you said is so true, I believe it has been said that Beta was better than VHS but we all know that VHS had won out because it could record more time.
Then there was Laserdisc, I personal think that Laserdisc was personally better than DVD, especially the early DVDs (not Blu-ray).
Also don't forget marketing, if you spend enough money on marketing you can brainwash people into buying an inferior product thinking its the best product. For example, Bose has great marketing.