There are two sides to the coin. The vocal minority of pro-region free only ever looks at the one side though.

Region free destroys localizations. Importers throw the estimated sales off kilter, and for niche games bordering on being worth localizing in the first place, it can be enough to deter translation and localization.

Legend of Legacy, Stella Glow, Etrian Odyssey Fafnir Knight, Rhodea Sky Soldier... Would these games be localized in an era of region free? I don't know, but I'm not eager to find out.

Region free costs the silent majority great game localizations, all so a select vocal minority can save $200 on buying a Japanese console. Doesn't seem right. Those who insist on playing imported games in a foreign language- they HAVE a solution. Buy a Japanese console. But those who get screwed out of localizations? What solution would they have? None. There's nothing they can do. They're screwed. They can't just go out and pop $200 and gain access to all those missed games.

Bottom line is there is a cost. But those in favor only want to look at the benefit. No one is saying it wouldn't be good to play games of any region on any system. That's great- terrific even. It's AT WHAT COST though. The cost of losing game localizations so the 95% + who don't care about playing games in a language they don't understand get screwed out of great games? Yet what's the cost the other way around? The < 5% who do want to play games in a foreign language have to pay $200 on a Japanese console. Now which is worse, you tell me.

And maybe I'm wrong. Maybe the number of importers is low enough to be counted as negligible. Maybe it would have little to no impact- it's hard to say without any real data. But the possibility is there, and it's one that should be considered. Because it's an awful high price to pay.

So for now, I caution people to be careful what they wish for, cause they just might get it.