The TEST devices are sold to game studios for QA testing their games, MINI developers to test their game on PS3 and press contacts to check out review discs or beta code sent to them by publishers. TOOLs are only loaned and thats why you wil hardly get one unless it was stolen somewhere. If you want such a device you really need to check out special places like the assembler games forum.

Sony is selling test units at prices around 700 Eur in the SCEE area. There is no definate price since Sony can give iinterested studios huge discounts if they want their idea on the plattform. Thats totaly up to the business skills of the studio.

Before you now think “hey let’s just apply to sony as a developer and get one the straight way”, that’s really not easy. It’s not like the iOS developing program or anything similar. To get accepted into the PS3 Program you need to be a big studio or got very definate plans for a title before they will even think of talking to you.