This is all really good, but it would be nice if it wasn't such a major PITA to get to the download.
https://login.oracle.com/mysso/signon.jsp
From that public-yum address you gave I get to the above page which wants me to register or sign up. Early this month (before I started this thread on luv-main) I tried to do that. I tried to create a new account which was a horrible process, the Javascript was really slow making my Q8400 system running Chromium too slow to keep up with my normal typing speed. Then when I got to the end it told me that my account was already registered - presumably from years ago.
I went through the registration as well. It completed and at the end it told me they will get back to me as they have to assess if I am a legimate user!! (whatever their criteria/process to decide that?)
I went through the password reset process but got no email, maybe SpamAssassin didn't like it or maybe it didn't re-send afer grey-listing.
CentOS and Debian are much easier, you just download and start work.
Scientific Linux is also a strip down Redhat based distro - good one. Daniel.