Yep. And the original PS3 was PS2-compatible by including pretty much the entire PS2 hardware on the same motherboard. Then a revision later only the EmotionEngine was kept and the rest was done in software, to be finally cut out completely by revision 3.
only a single premium version of ps3 could play ps2 games. the one that shipped with 60gb HD. it was not the first one. and was not continued. very hard to find.
It was the first one. Except in Japan where a 20GB none-BC model was also sold.
It was the first one released. And hard to find? CEX(a popular second-hand store in the UK) is showing 59 of them in stock at the moment, for a low price of 88 pounds(~120USD)