You'd think they could open it up at this point. It's not like it's ever going to be the relevant format they were hoping for.

Any drive that can read a DVD is physically able to read a SACD, but the copy protection is built into the data structure, so it would take a custom firmware for the DVD drive.

Someone did write a ripping app for the (modded) PS3. It can extract the DSD data, and looks like Foobar can now play the format.

There's no reason even bother with SACD, not only is it irrelevant, but the format is flawed with it's ability to reproduce high frequency audio with a reasonable signal to noise ratio.

I'd support Blu-ray releases of albums if they became more popular and bands I actually listen to started releasing on it. I still like to buy CDs simply so I can have the physical copy... and because it allows me to easily rip my music, but honestly, I'd switch from CDs to downloads if they offered high-res lossless multichannel versions of releases. Buying downloadable tracks at less-than-CD-quality always feels like a step backward to me, and even buying CD-quality FLAC makes me wish I was getting a physical copy since I'm usually spending the same amount that I'd spend on an actual disc that I could then rip as FLAC.

lol, agreed!

The one positive is that there seems to be much more care put into mastering (most?) SACD's. I think it's likely SACD enthusiasts are mistaken in their belief that it's a far superior format to CD's simply because of this.