Non-free drivers (Re: Invitation to ubuntu developers)

[Mark]

On 12/1/06, Pavel Rojtberg <pavel at madman2k.net> wrote:
> Matt Zimmerman schrieb:
> > As I've clarified many times in this thread already, Ubuntu has installed
> > and used non-free software since its very inception.  We have always made a
> > compromise for key driver support.
> sure but now you want extend the non-free part and users, which were
> fine before, start complaining.
>

Well, actually, developers start complaining. Many, many users will be
quite happy with any advance that ends the need to jump through
obscure hoops to set up the *shinyness* that attracted them in the
first place, as will the many people who volunteer in #ubuntu and the
forums helping people get these things set up. Now you might argue
that fixing bugs and so on is easier with free drivers, but most
support requests are for problems getting things set up initially.

The question becomes, is it better to please users, or developers,
(acknowledging there is not a clear cut distinction between the two)
or to try and compromise in a way that most people are happy?

Thanks,
Mark