google -> sarcasm
But if we want to be serious

, yes region free was a major factor. Not a better format though, but a fairer format (though in a few cases there have been better releases on HD DVD. Not due to the format, just the plain fact that like with DVD all releases are not equal or perfect, sadly).
I still cannot buy Blu-Ray because of the region coding. I have already come across numerous titles which I want from regions A and B which are locked to one or the other, and that means buying multiple players. Which I utterly refuse to do.
In many cases you can't just wait for the disc you want in your region when there are superior versions released elsewhere that are never released here or vice versa. I'm more outraged though that Japan is included in region A now, whereas it was :r2: same as UK for DVD. That means lots of films which are only available from Japan are out of my reach without multiple players*
* - yeah okay, or an expensive mod chip that will probably be broken by the next firmware update likely, which you'll need to play the latest discs.