ps: the calculation posted brings up something important: the PSU lease. By assuming $10/month for the lease, after 8 months the [half-]PSU is completely paid for. does it become property of the leasee, or do the monthly lease fees become monthly rental fees? Either way, that adds about $60-80 to the above calculations ROI.
The lease is exactly that, a rental over a pre-determined period of time. The initial price I have set for the 3-month contract is to take into account the cost of shipping the PSU's to the DC, any potential failures/down-time (with their return shipping), and having to return PSU's back to me if anyone/everyone decides to end their contract after the initial period. If anyone intends to re-new at that point for another 3 month or longer contract, we can re-negotiate (in advance of the renewal date) a more favourable lease rate given shipping won't be required again.
I can't say for certain how much cheaper the renewal rate will be until I get an idea of failures and/or downtime, but it will absolutely not be going up. I am not looking at gouging anyone here, only trying to provide a more feasible solution to the ownership dilemma, while still covering my bases in case of short contracts/failures, since every failed PSU will need the unit returned to me and a new one shipped out to the DC as quickly as possible (while keeping extras on hand on top of that).
Another issue that could arise if the GB were to strictly purchase the PSU's, who would be responsible for replacing a failed unit outside of the initial purchase? Those members whose serial numbers are tied to it? It's these types of problems I'm trying to help avoid. Also, if you factor in having to sell off all the used PSU packages at the end of different hosting periods in order to distribute the assets fairly to those who are pulling out, you will take a substantial hit on the re-sale value, and have to pay shipping to somewhere in NA. This seems to me to be a reasonably priced alternative to any of that.
In regards to a yearly/unlimited plan, that would be nice but I don't think anyone would be willing to get into a contract (and if they do, to keep that contract) longer than their hosting commitment for pretty obvious reasons. I am fully willing to negotiate cheaper lease rates if anyone signs longer contracts with GND, but to my knowledge for the scope of this GB, only 3 month commitments are initially available.