I would passionately disagree with this statement, but I understand how both are enjoyable (yet clearly flawed) games. Each are gonna heavily resonate with somebody.
I think in those first few years, most people buying PS4 consoles were doing it out of price/power, or because their friends already had one. For an enormous chunk of the game buying audience, no exclusive is more valuable than the ability to play Madden/FIFA/CoD with your friends. If the first person in your gaming group goes PlayStation, that sets the platform for the rest of the group.
I believe the first person in the group tends to be more of a core gamer that will be swayed by the exclusives/game library of a certain platform so even if it is indirect the exclusives still have a big affect. Core gamers will be followed by the casuals.