While I agree that performance isn't everything when it comes to a console, I do think that a lot of people these days know a lot more about specifications of consoles than what they used to years ago. With that being said, if your choosing what console to purchase, your going to look for value for money, and can you justify paying a high price for a console that isn't necessarily the best spec?
Choosing a console with the best specifications is also a way of future proofing your gaming aswell to a certain extent, and you don't want to buy a console that will be out of date within six months of buying it.