There's no point in making a Linux version. Nobody would play it. EVE Online players (similar audience) bugged CCP for a Linux client for years. CCP finally made one but stopped updating it after a couple of years because less than 1% of the subscribers were using it. The only reason I could think of to make a Linux version would be if they really believe in SteamOS and want to get Valve another title for it.
That is nonsense. Almost all stuff runs on Linux now, there are very few proprietory apps that are not multi-plattform capable. Games are usually the exception because of bad software design and ignorant developers.
As you may remember, Elite and Frontier ran not only on mulitple OSes, but also on various plattforms. Sticking E

now to the Wintel plattform is indicative of the industries failure.
Also, Eve online has a totally different audience from E

. And they even made an Eggsbox version, which really is a niche system, and even there players are playing it.
In the end, it is FDs money to not make. SC has a bigger scope, therefore - like many others - I pledged a lot more money. Private servers, native binaries, multi plattform support and even multi-screen support are announced, while people are discussing here whether "it is worth it".