[ugh]

Not because of that. iTunes exists to make Apple’s hardware attractive, not the other way around. (Same with the App Store.) It’s pocket change for Apple. Just look at their quarterly reports to see what they are actually making money with.

They might want to keep the box around for the same reason there is a Mac mini (or they are still selling the iPhone 3GS and the iPad 2): To offer a low-priced entry point. They might also kill it because it clutters their product line. Or because it would be too cheap compared to a full-blown TV and everyone might just go with it instead of the TV.