You're right. Working on a short-term version and a long-term version in parallel is not absurd, IF you already have a complete, usable, stable system and people are using it.
That isn't the case with the Hurd. Not many people use it, and not many people will use it until the improvements come that will only come with major progress. Supporting legacy development just splits your resources and makes it so the inevitable takes longer. Well said.
