Didn't AMD release a ton of documentation for their GPUs specifically so that the open source radeon drivers could become a realistic option when using their GPUs?

Nobody I know with an AMD GPU uses the propriety fglrx drivers.

Open source 3D drivers will have a hard time EVER being useable for anything beyond glgears... everything in that space is going to be really patent encumbered.

Frankly, if you are looking to play games than you are wasting your time with any of the available GPU/driver combinations on Linux.

If that's not what you are after, then I don't know what more than working KMS and enough "umph" to run a compositing window manager you could need.

> working KMS

Something that NVIDIA refuses to support :)

Fortunately most of the world don't care about software patents :)