Well, I have been thinking about this. At first I totally agreed with you, but then I thought, 'Hey, what's this? Since when do i agree on something?' It's so much interesting not to agree. Heheh
Let me repeat myself, Sony likes to control the food chain, just like Apple.
See what happens with the PSP:
DRM on PSP
and
PSP firmware hacks
Everytime good ole hackers try to open the PSP to homebrew software, Sony closes the hole. Of course, it's just a game of cat and mouse, but they don't like it. Game developers do not want their games copied, so Sony closes the system. If it were for Sony, they would leave it open and sell PSP like candy. Something similar will happen to the Mylo, probably. I don't think Skype will like the competition of a fan-port of other VoIP programs.
There's a difference between the PSP on one hand and Mylo and the Reader on the other, though. They both run on Linux. Now, the Linux kernel and other bits are licensed under GPL and Sony would be required to completely open the system. So, if they open the system, that would probably mean (I'm no programmer, but it fits) that their e-book DRM is cracked open. Publishers won't like it, and they stop supporting Sony. Sony doesn't get licence money and closes the security hole.
I think even big Sony will have to kneel down and give the source to their OS, but not the modules (i.e. software) that depend on it. If they have created something (eBook reader) from scratch, they don't need to give it away. Really, they only need to control the firmware update bit not to let us change what they don't want us to change. I would like to see how far their SDK kit goes.
Yes, I have read your bit on firmware flashing, "b_k", but I think Sony could try to circunnavigate this with some technical / legal loopholes. They have money to burn and at least try to get away with it.
PS: I agree with you on something, NatCh. I support you in the demand of a shrug smilie.