QUOTE(throwingks @ Oct 16 2006, 01:21 PM)
Do you think Sony is doing this to keep people from legally modding their PS3 under the umbrella of "so I can put Linux on it?" This is a pretty smart move on their part to keep piracy from happening.
I believe that's EXACTLY the reason.
The Linux Development Kit didn't appear until they were approached by a Linux group stating that they wanted an official Linux distro, and if they didn't provide a distro they would hack the console to put Linux on it which would in-inadvertently open the door to piracy. Sony obliged and they got the PS2 Linux developers kit.
The same offer was brought to MS's attention and they pretty much told them to screw off. And IIRC that's where we got exploits and TSOP mods from (as well as some other innovations)
Bunnie would have hacked the console regardless though.
I believe Sony recognizes this as a peace offering keeping Linux fanboys from tearing their security to shreds, which is why they're preemptively allowing a Linux distro... MS on the other hand is just too damn proud to allow their biggest competitor's software to run on their hardware.
Personally I don't think any corporation cares about the EXCUSE of using Linux on their hardware as a reason to crack it, or any excuse for that matter. There are Linux fanatics who DO actually care about running Linux on whatever hardware they can find regardless of the obstacles.
Basically if you look at the security as a wall with a locked door. the Linux fanatics are asking for a key to get in, and if you don't give them a key then they're just going to bust down a wall and let everyone else in with them (namely Pirates)