Hi Time4Tea,
For me it is a balancing act. I didn't have a free system to begin with (like
most people) and as I said I use my system every day for personal and work
purposes; I don't buy or use systems just to tinker with. My system needs to
be stable, it needs to work, it needs to be complete, and needs to be well
supported by a stable community. My goal is to use only free systems, but
until free systems can meet those four basic needs I don't see them as an
option and I am not willing to undermine those needs to get there.
The issue here is that I do not believe the Libreboot/Minifree/Technoethical
community is stable and could implode at any time. I am not willing to gamble
with my every day tools in the name of software freedom. I will take steps
though. I use Trisquel, I have an X200 as my primary computer, and should
Libreboot take the steps needed to show me it isn't an unstable one person
show where that leader can't seem to not start fires online I will dive in,
not a minute sooner.
With Libreboot I am looking to see if 1) It rejoins GNU, and 2) The larger
management team holds for a period of time with no drama and with growth.
Just being endorsed by the FSF doesn't do it for me, it did before the
kerfuffle, but now I need to see additional steps. Again, I had a non-free
BIOS before so nothing has appreciatively changed for me. Libreboot, or
possibly a fork of it is a potentially exciting upgrade path I am watching. I
bought my x200 with Libreboot in mind, the kerfuffle caused me to take a wait
and see approach. I received my x200 the day Libreboot announced it was
pulling out of GNU for context.
With Minifree/Technoethical I am unlikely to support them at all. I am
unimpressed with the immature leadership of both places. Neither company
sells anything that is so unique that I can't get it elsewhere from a more
professionally run outlet or simply do it myself. I make these votes with my
wallet every day, it is normal marketplace behavior.
I hope this helps to clarify my position for you, Be well.
