So What?

Of course our opinions as non-kernel-developers matter.  We're the mind-share; we're the
customers.  I returned a wireless card because the chipset on it wouldn't work with a Free
driver.  We demanded computers with Linux pre-installed, and there were enough of us that
manufacturers provided computers with Linux pre-installed.  We can choose distributions
appropriately for our own use, and we can choose or reject devices running embedded Linux.
How we, as the end users of Linux, view non-Free kernel modules matters a great deal.