#Sets subject to the new branch of this thread
I think you have a different objective for economics >to me.
Possibly, possibly not. I made no mention of *my* ideals, it wasn't the point I was making. The point I was making is that the majority of people *prefer* the capitalistic way. I think GPL is too radical to be practical (regardless of whether I believe it's the the right way or not), since there are a lot of fat cats to persuade...
I want a free and fair market,
I do too. I find capitalism to be coercive and unfair. I prefer small companies to have the freedom to compete, rather than a single monopoly.
while it sounds like you want a way for companies to >grow fat from cheap/free labour of programmers.
Not me. But most companies DO. </snipped out my personal politics rant!>
I don't think that it's any coincidence that most of the people I have met who use linux are ....
Maybe it's just that we become one of the above, >empowered by the ability to do so?
Errr... yes/no. Yes, in the sense that I, for example, have just applied for an MSc in Software Development (mostly OO stuff) and my last degree was in Pharmacology- I attribute my wish to code as 99.999% due to GNU/Linux. It has absoloutely nothing to do with their 32 processor Beowulf cluster, honest. But then, I was already working in IT, and I never (well, maybe once a month) watch TV, so when the pub's not an option, I'm fiddling with my computer, or reading a book. I am far from normal. I am a nerd.
No, as most people don't have the time, intelligence or the patience (particularly the patience) to fiddle with their computer. They want it to be as easy and convenient as a TV, although I'll be buggered if I understand how my parents digital TV works.
Basically, I was making a point of practicality for the BSD licence, rather than an idealistic or personal one.
So, who's for Microsoft Windows BSD-XP? ;)