* With YDL v5.0, the PS3 is fully supported with the exception of the NVIDIA graphics card (see note on Graphics).
You will require a USB keyboard, USB mouse, and USB drive ('thumb', 'jump', or drive) or memory stick (Sony, SD, Compact Flash) in addition to a PC or Mac from which you will download and transfer the bootloader and bootloader installer to the PS3. Details of this process are given in the YDL v5.0 Guide to Installation.
** The Nvidia graphics card is not supported beyond framebuffer mode. This does does not reduce the quality of the image, but does not provide accelerated video nor OpenGL support.
Both HDMI and Component Video are supported.
*** At this time, system sound and .ogg files are fully functional. However, neither playing nor ripping audio CDs functions. Stay tuned for updates ...
Mal rollo, no hay soporte para la gráfica, así que no hay aceleración 3D... mal se presenta el panorama para el scene o lo que se quiera hacer con la consola, porque sin gráfica la veo bastante inútil.
De todas formas, lo de pagar no es obligatorio, solo pagas SI CONTRATAS EL SOPORTE, al menos es lo que pone en la web.
Linux es gratuíto, otra cosa es que alguien se curre un paquete dando un soporte de su producto, en su web (no sin dar unas cuantas vueltas hasta encontrarlo) tienes links para bajártelo (si es que es eso, no tengo la PS3 a mano para probarlo xD).
http://www.terrasoftsolutions.com/resources/downloads.shtml
ftp://mirror.mcs.anl.gov/pub/yellowdog/