Based on the emails people have been posting, Gateway will not upgrade their hardware and the current cards will function on 9.x firmware.
However since nobody knows how they're solving it, when they are solving it and how they'll overcome the whole updating without the blue card deal - its a potentially risky endeavour to buy the card now. As opposed to waiting untill Gateway offers up more information.
Then again, if it is true that nothing additional is needed, buying now means beating a potential price increase once shops get confirmed that Gateway will work on 9.x so thats the trade-off.
Either you buy it now, risking having a useless card because you ca't upgrade it without the right hardware.
Or you wait, risking a price-increase.
I'm sure people have already been emailing Gateway trying to get confirmation about the whole "how do you plan on updating" deal.
I absolutely agree. I prefer to wait though. Just bought a new 3DSXL (on FW 9.2 now), but I won't buy a Gateway until I'm sure it works properly. You might be right that prices may go up once it has been established that it does work, but I'll take my chances. Better to spend $80 on something that works, than spending $65 on a gamble.