Not surprised
Given that this is *exactly* what they said when the Vita was announced. All the other dates were speculated by people other than Sony. Wishful thinking doesn't pull release dates forward.
Sony has disappointed millions of eager gamers by announcing the PlayStation Vita will not be available in Europe or the US in 2011. Sony exec Kazuo Hirai broke the news earlier, saying while the anticipated handheld will still launch in Japan before the end of December, the western markets will miss out, Bloomberg reports. …
Was looking forward to one for Christmas, the move doesn't make masses of sense either. PSP is still going strong in Japan with a big list of games still to come, but the PSP won't make a dent in most westerner's shopping lists and there are next to no games coming.
Release in the west to counter the 3DS and then in Japan when the PSP tails off would be more logical, but hey home turf and all!
PSP/PSV news - http://psp2roundup.blogspot.com/