Since the original thread was locked because  the mods couldn't move it to the Sony section, I'm continuing the poll here.

My opinion is that it could actually be beneficial, because it attracts people who would otherwise not buy a PS3 (=larger install base) and as we all know, pirates too buy accessories and even the occasional game. After all, Microsoft's and Nintendo's systems are also doing well despite being hacked.

Until the lock, the results were:

i dont see how SW would necessarily go down... people who own ps3s already probably wouldn't hack them IMO. i think HW would increase, but SW obviously wouldn't increase at the same rate as some systems would be hacked.

Hardware could go up because of the hack too...

Uh.. people can't get on PSN with a hacked PS3.  Also, the 360 was hacked much earlier on than the PS3 in it's life...  And, it still has to become popular.  Again, no one wants to spend the time it takes to download something like Metal Gear Solid 4 when it would be much easier to go to the store and buy it... and then, you can't get on PSN after spending all that time with it?

I just don't see what would make hacking the PS3 so worth anything.... Playing bootlegged games isn't enough... and, you can't use the online store? Why?...  why hack the thing if it'll hamper you...  then, when you get banned by Sony, you have to turn around and buy another PS3 right?...  What if the hacking will cause them to update the hardware within the PS3 (OMG, NEW SKU)... Then people will complain because there's another SKU out on the market that they don't own... like it matters....

Are you prepared to download Uncharted 3, just because you want to play it 3 weeks early?  What?  You say you don't have a Blue-ray disc burner? Well, get one...  And, after that, be prepared to wait for the 1 month download of a 60+ GB game....

No PS3 at the moment reads 67 GB blu ray discs, and who knows how long the hacks will take to enable the feature...  Maybe Sony did that on purpose....  There will be so many complications and time considerations...  No 360 game will ever be more than 16 GB, but, the PS3's bluray drive can be updated to read the bigger discs, and games already require that you download the latest software to play them... which is included on the disc if you can't get online and download/install it.....  It's just... like I said... not worth the trouble... You still have to pay for the Bluray disc burner, discs, and wait for the thing to download for 4 months, assuming there's always a seeder feeding you at a decent speed....  Then for other, larger games you have to find the 67 GB discs to hold the entire game...  Then, by the time the game comes out, you may as well had bought it, because when it releases, you'll still be downloading... and that's all assuming you dont brick your PS3, and void the warrenty...

Do you know how many games you'd have to download to justify the costs of bootlegging?  You may as well go get the official game.

People can't get on Live with a hacked 360, but that doesn't seem to stop (m)any pirates from modding their Xbox.

its not good having any console hacked! 'nough said

If Sony is still selling PS3 hardware at a loss it will be bad. Not only that but some existing owners will turn to piracy along with many new ones which will hurt potential software sales. Add to that having to provide free online to pirates and you can see where it'll be an even bigger burden on Sony. It could also be truly disastrous and turn the PS3 into another PSP.

If I enabled me to run linux better on it. I'm all for it, would mean I could replace my computer, just my ps3 for all my needs.
if they get homebrew on the XMB then that would be ok too,
blu-ray rips might not impact it too badly
but a iso loader from a external hdd would ruin the PS3 imo like what happened to the PSP
no doubt compressed versions of games would come out most games don't take much more room then xbox games i believe eurogamer has said before

It will be a good thing once there is a hack that is user friendly. Aslong as the "hacks" they release requires alot of workarounds and advanced knowledge on how to pull it off it wont affect the PS3 at all.

At the moment, it's not hardware you want to go up since they don't profit from it or even break even. Then again, if the only possible way was to burn games onto a bluray disc, be my guest. In my opinion, it builds credibility with developers, the idea that you can make games for a system and all the people who play their game actually had to buy it is nice.