What is this? Does this pertain to NetBSD 1.4.2? Is this why I can't do an
install with the 1.5-alpha ISO image?

Did I just waste $1000 USD on a machine I can't run NetBSD on?

Subject: Re: Any docs on NetBSD on B&W G3's?
From: Bill Studenmund <wrstuden@nas.nasa.gov>
Date: 02/07/2000 15:03:39

One drawback is that OF puts the 646 pciide controller in a polling mode
our firmware initialization doesn't reset, so while you can boot from an
ide disk, you then can't use it.