First of all the operating system is called GNU/Linux (Linux is only its
kernel): http://www.gnu.org/gnu/why-gnu-linux.html
Then, if you believe that important that Trisquel's developers "should either
hack this thing up or remove it and create something better" then help
yourself (or pay for it)! What gives you the right to complain about a free
software (in all senses of the term "free")?
Notice that, for some (most?) laptops (including mine with an Intel graphic
chip), the boot was made more aesthetic after the adoption of Plymouth. There
is no more flickering when Xorg starts and, as far as I understand, this is
thanks to the use of Kernel Mode Setting (that nouveau has troubles to
manage).
Finally, choosing text over a bootsplash is only a matter of configuring
GRUB. Too hard? Well, then install startupmanager (
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/StartUpManager ) from the repository and
check the related box!
