"We don’t charge for the basic functions of the network like matching services. Things like that are taken for granted on a PC, aren’t they? There’s the feeling of why a game console gets to charge for a service that’s normal on a PC. So, we just made the basic services available, and based our business on the contents," he said.

http://arstechnica.com/old/content/2006/06/7040.ars

Like I said, it was marketed with free online so they can't start charging even if they wanted too.

no but its likely next gen or the current model will stick with more features.

never know

Nah.

Didn't read whole thread, so someone may have said this, but Pachter (I know, I know) estimates they do about $10 million in sales a week on PSN, with a profit of about $3 million.  Add in damage control, refunds, the cost of redoing the network, an "I'm sorry" gift for users, the handfuls of people who might choose another system to buy - or at least to spend their software money on this month, etc.   And it becomes a decent chunk of change the longer this goes on.  

For example, when XBL went down that Christmas, I turned to WoW and got sucked back in for three months straight.  I would've bought a couple games and a couple downloadables in that timespan.  Instead Blizzard got my money.  And it never would've happened had XBL been up and running on my winter break.  

Worse if they do end up finding out credit cards have been leaked and used, as obviously they have liability there and it opens up the possibilities of individual/class-action lawsuits/settlements as they didn't live up to their end of the EULA agreement that goes on forever every time they update the system.

It's an expense they don't need for a product line where they are still in the red lifetime in a big way.

No, it's too late for that. PSN's image has been tarnished by this ordeal. No one in their right mind will pay for a weak secured online experience.