Sparc64 is quite new
> 2) The machines are quite common by now, specially in academic settings.
> It's quite easy to find a SPARC machine where one can get a user
> account.
Not that easy an ultrasparc
> 3) GCC has been ported to the SPARC for quite some time.
Not the 64bit sparc
> No CPU seems to combine affordability, performance and sufficient
> information availability. This is basically what worries me over the
> long term.
ARM ?