To an extent the PS+ thing makes a bit of sense – PS+ users, similar to Qriocity users, have had to secure their accounts via credit card, whereas ‘normal’ PSN users don’t necessarily have to commit to a card. (notice how much I hedged my phrase!)

But you are right – they could send a free PS3 to everyone with a PSN account and there would be outrage that they didn’t include a second controller or games or a bag of money or … something!

Well, it SHOULD be irrelevant. But sadly there are far too many people caring more about being compensated for not being able to play games online for a week or two (oh, the horror!) than anything else. And what’s even sadder is Sony still can’t ‘win’ no matter what they give away. I’ve already seen complaints from existing PS+ subscribers whining that non-PS+ members are getting the same 30 days free. How petty is that?

But as we have seen repeatedly, people will gladly toss aside privacy and security concerns for a few free trinkets (Google built an industry on this!). So this is smart – rebuild the network, toss gamers a cookie, all is forgiven.