May I just point out that the article is from the end of February, and that Sony have scoffed at Hickey's mentionings of a Blu-rayless PS3 - not only is it a foolish thought because Sony is one of the founding members of Blu-ray, and is using the PS3 to push the format, but then there's also that little detail that PS3 games come on Blu-ray...

Whilst it may throw Hickey's comments into a mire of implausibility, many pundits have voiced their opinions that if Sony is going to drop the price, they'll announce and bring it in to action during GDC (March 23rd - 25th(?)). It doesn't take a genius to guess that they'd do it then, though. If not GDC, then E3, or a Gamer's Day in London, or before Christmas.