Are you an early adopter, and if so, why?

I'd have to disagree that launch games are generally poor quality, some that stick in my mind as firmly disproving that argument are:

NES: Super Mario Bros.
SNES: Super Mario World, F-Zero
Genesis: Altered Beast
Playstation 1: Ridge Racer, Wipeout
Sega Saturn: Panzer Dragoon, Virtua Fighter
N64 Super Mario 64, Pilotwings 64
Dreamcast: Sonic Adventure, Soul Calibur, House of the Dead 2, Airforce Delta, Power Stone
PS2: SFEX3, Ridge Racer V
Oh and there was that game on the XBOX, you know, with the aliens and guns and stuff...

 

In part I agree, but you've referenced an average of 2 games per console - would you shell out top price for a console just for 1 or 2 games? I'd say there were probably 10 mediocre games released at the same time for each of those consoles. Would you pay top dollar for a console 'just' for Super Mario Bros? Or even Halo. Of course it all depends on your perspective, I guess.

On that note, I did buy a Dreamcast on (or just around) launch and I wouldn't say Airforce Delta, or even House of the Dead 2 were classics by any stretch of the imagination and, iirc, wasn't Sonic Adventure later repressed because it wasn't finished? Except for Altered Beast (seriously? The arcade sucked, and no console port could ever improve it!) But... I would agree with all the other games mentioned - they are classic games! (ìmho)

 

From the Super Nintendo on I was either an early adopter or imported ahead of launch for most consoles. This generation though is the first one that I've hung back and waited on so far. There is to me been neither a jump in performance as in previous generations nor any must have games as in the past that have made me go out and get them. Fallout 4 is most likely going to be the game that forces me to jump to this generation.

 

Xbox - Christmas 2001
Xbox 360 - Christmas 2005 got one for the family, paid a lot, came with 6 games, extra controller.
Xbox One - My son this time pre-ordered his own Day One, I also bought a Day One for myself.
off topic/ Talking Elmo Doll - 95/96 Xmas, My daughter had one under the tree.

Sony & Nintendo purchases were more casual and not during launches, except for maybe the Wii.

 

I got the 3ds within a few months after it launched. Was really hyped for all the games that were said to come out and then sad when the delays started popping up.

 

You are forgetting the either piss-poor or bland non-memorable XBOX launch titles, though. Mad Dash Racing, Shrek, Blood Wake, Dark Summit, Batman: Vengeance, etc. Although I did love Fusion Frenzy. Miss that game!

I will agree that the Dreamcast had a stellar opening, at least in the US.

EDIT: Also despite nostalgia, Altered Beast by and large is considered a poor game.

 

I actually liked the first few months of the Xbox more than most of its life.

Blood Wake, Azurik, Nightcaster, and Gun Metal were guilty pleasures. Doubt I could stand more than a few minutes of any of them these days though.