To play devil's advocate?

People will be less likely to support consumer rights the next time they try to sue somebody.

Also somewhat ties the actions to Hotz... so people get a little mad at him too... and ignore the fact that Sony totally botched their lawsuit against him and had to abort.

There are reasons.... I just wouldn't call in the FBI if I was going to do it.

I don't think Sony aborted considering Hotz got more restrictions against him no?

They dropped charges vs everyone else in the suit, dropped charges against hotz, and didn't even force him to admit anything was wrong.

They basically offered him a sweetheart deal that basically wouldn't negativly effect him in any way and let him avoid sitting in court for the years Sony would of dragged it out.

It was nothing short of a stone cold abort.  The info they must have pulled up ziltch on the supeonas.

I mean, what's the message... if you hack a Sony device, they're going to make you super famous, you get to be the symbol of the internet freedom movement for a while, be on all sorts of TV shows and GREATLY boost your hireability on the job market... and the cost to this is.... you won't be able to hack and distribute another Sony product? 

Not the best message to be sending out.  Espiecally if you think about it for 2 seconds and realize that the punishment isn't really a Punishment... I mean... I'm not going to hack and distribute a sony device because if I do... I won't be able to hack and distribute sony devices? 

That's like saying I'm never going to try and get that Trophy... because If I do... i'll never be able to get it again.

Did you miss the part where he was banned from ever touching anything Sony related again, if he did so, he would be fined something like $20,000 for every item he touched?

Why else do you think he took on that nonsensical self imposed "boycott", it was to save face and attempt to look cool in front of his "fans".

Though I agree, should have gone the whole hog and ruined him completely. I still believe it was his efforts that ultimately led us down to the part we are on now so I have no sympathy for the guy.

I would say VERY likely, some hackers decided to stick the file on there, to get people think Anonymous did it.  As for what gain Sony has, WELL.... apparently Anonymous was on a crusade for consumer rights, to get Sony to put back features they took out and promised when people originally bought the PS3 (like OtherOS).  By having people believe, particularly Sony users, that Anonymous did it, they can turn public opinion in their favor and against Anonymous.  Doing this means they win the PR battle.  That is what blaming Anonymous gains for them.  If you get the public to turn against Anonymous, they lose complete support, and get marginalized.

He is allowed to use all the SOny products he wants to, he just isn't allowed to hack any Sony products anymore.

I know what you're saying, but the "consumers rights" argument have been abused on these boards to give excuse to bash a console maker in this context.  I have openly voiced that the PS3 is my console of choice.  Sony has not violated my right as a consumers.  Hackers have made my gaming life "harder."  When Sony protects their IP, that in turn gives consumers such as I a better gaming experience.  Let's not take thing out of context to "prove" a point.

Remember that you're not the only customer. Just because it's okay to you may not be okay to someone else. They are just excercising their rights.

Oh, you mean those consumers who think they have a right to violate the TOS they agreed upon?

Terms of service isn't always binding and can be nullified rather easily. It's not the same thing as a signed contract.