Sorry for interfering, I don't really know what's the issue here. But I guess the issue is something along the lines of a debate about whether the documentation should instruct readers to override their current operating system, or to install the system along with the current one.
If my guess is right, then I must advise the writers to take both approaches, explaining the differences, like: * Frequency of free and non-free software usage: Overwriting the current system will PROBABLY make the user look for free software more often to do his computing, but the user will still be able to install the non-free software he wants (make it clear that he won't get help from the free software community to do so, not even recommendations or instructions), either via pre-built versions or by building existing source code, although things can be complicated if there's none of these available. Installing alongside the current system, on the other hand, could make transition to free software slower, at the cost of keeping non-free software. * Hardware compatibility: Exactly as explained in "Frequency of free and non-free software usage". However, this time the writers must make the user aware of the worst scenarios. Like having no video output after overwriting the current system, and so on. Although the writers also must emphasize that the free software community won't help the user by installing/recommending/teaching non-free software/firmware/drivers/modules for his computing. * Other things that I can't remember now. I think I already gave too much of my thoughts here. :D Now you ask me: "Why are you being so neutral on non-free software usage?" Because, unlike most people (that I REALLY can't remember the name, although I have seem such here in Brazil too), I don't consider non-free software usage as a "sin" that deserves to be purged straight away or that needs to be made public or that would serve as reason for other people to keep "sinning together" (Wow! Sounds funny "sinning"/"singing"). Quite differently, I consider non-free software usage as a dependency that is somewhat difficult to deal with, and most people have their own level of difficulty. And we should at least make this people aware of what could happen with whichever decision THEY make.
