Do you have a source on this? I do not recall this sort of representation at all. In fact, what I do remember is Sony claiming the system would sell extremely well even if they launched with no software at all. Of course, that wasn't the case. Hindsight is 20/20, as they say.
While I do think a lot of the "hate" Sony is receiving now is a little extreme, it's not much different than what Nintendo went through the last two generations. It's flip-flopped now, but it was "popular" to hate on Nintendo, and I think some of the people who were enjoying that time don't like being on the other end so much.
However, Sony's marketing team, in America at least, came off as extremely arrogant during pre-PS3 release time and as a consumer I, personally, don't care for that sort of attitude. That is why I do not feel sorry for Sony. You reap what you sow.