not bundling the headset is bar none, the STUPIDEST thing they could do. a kinect microphone WILL pick up a LOT of feedback from the tv, from your family, from other stuff. aside from all of that, it's what really pushed xblive to the top. yes, it wasn't the content, nor was it the price of xbl gold and the "additional features". it was the bundled headset so people can talk to each other while playing because essentially, online gaming is a form of socializing.