"...converted to x86 for 200000 quid!"
Maybe the idea is to get some return of invest through a rather expensive "special system" than from an x86 operating system sold without hardware. Even if you sell standard pc hardware with it - I don't see, how to achieve 200.000 bucks with this.
Within two years, the MorphOS development team has sold close to 1000 licenses, based on public reports from buyers on MorphZone, at 111.11 or 150 EUR (incl. 19% VAT) each. Within this period, the OS has been available for affordable Mac computers, which include free MacOS licenses, for just a mere 9 months.
Clearly, it is possible to generate revenue exceeding 100.000 EUR selling an "expensive" niche operating system that competes with free Linux, bundled MacOS, etc.
It is not overly far fetched to assume that if somebody invested 200.000 EUR to have a reasonably attractive PowerPC-based OS ported to selected x86 computers in exchange for receiving all software revenues until the investment is paid back, that person or organization might actually break even.
