🚀 go-pugleaf

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Ahah.  The discussion comes to the fundamental issue.  I believe that
the efforts of companies like Cygnus will not impugn the reputation of
the FSF or of the GNU project.  Rather, they serve to enhance it,
because it shows that there is viability in the software beyond a
bunch of university hackers.

There are a number of companies out there who are using GNU tools to
build their crown jewels, because they are the best available.  Many
of those wouldn't consider using them *unless* someone like Cygnus
were around to provide support.

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Your argument is credible. However, I remain unconvinced. I think that
GNUs reputation as a 'bunch of hackers' was propogated by marketing
sharks from certain companies. ( particularly those with other O.S.s
to sell besides Unix ). The there are the dinosaurs who never use a
keyboard except to contact their secretaries... due for extinction
over time). In a way this is an argument to protect the FSF's independence
as a way to prove that this is not software 'hacked' together by
bulletin board freaks but is instead the culmination of research 
by talented individuals earning Masters and PhD degress; plus a few
post graduate types. 

Given the charters of the FSF and the LPF, (to protect programmers from
unscrupulous companies trying to patent everything back to the discovery
of the wheel), maintaining an aloof independence from any commercial
entity is important. It would be very easy for another company to tout
their version of 'supported GNU tools' as a better rendition which would
touch off a war between that organization and Cygnus over who actually
has the 'FSF seal of approval'. This and similar marketing shenanigans
will only hurt the credibility of the FSF and LPF when they try to 
protest unscrupulous acts by business. They will be perceived as immature
puppets who practice favoritism.

In any case that is my opinion.

-- peter brewer