In an ideal (no expensive, oppressive DRM for starters) world, the larger capacity of Blu-Ray should make us happier. Hopefully they will put something on the discs that will justify the hype.
HD-DVD has some things going for it according to Samsung
http://gizmodo.com/341906/interview-samsung-says-theres-life-after-hollywood-for-hd-dvdThings I like about HD-DVD
+ cheaper (at least for the foreseable) - should make a rapid transition to the world of PC disc burning, ironically the thing that might have "saved" it?
+ not region encoded - this seems to be a real disadvantage for Blu-Ray - I want to be able to perhaps buy cheap HD-DVDs and play them on my PC.
+ HD-DVD is bigger outside the US? Maybe it will stay alive to some extent?