Given the fast pace of technology, timing and speed might be crucial for survival of the formats. If the general public takes too long in adopting a format, it just might go the way of the dinosaurs. The other side of the coin suggests that unlike the beta/vhs war there are more players involved (more capital) and the majority of corporations seem to favor one format over the other, nonetheless LD was very promising, but the public never took interest, it became a niche for a very short time then DVD did it in. Same can happen to high-def DVD, the next big thing coming down the pike might pique consumer interest and that'll be the end of high-def DVDs.
