^Gouldy, That was caused by a MASSIVE influx of subscribers after Christmas 2007. Microsoft apologized formally to all XBL subscribers and offered a free XBLA game to make up for it. Sony isn't to blame for the PSN hack, but they are to blame for allowing the PSN to continue service a FULL DAY after PSN user's information began being compromised. Then they had the NERVE to keep all this information private until recently.
Sony may have a free service, but that's a selling point. You are comparing PSN to Freeware. If there's a problem with Freeware, then oh well, you shouldn't be so cheap. If there's a problem with PSN, then Sony can't just say, "oh well, it's free." There's a huge difference.