Merge into Linux? Useful as test suite before buying hardware!

Sorry, my allusion to the requirements for distributing source code was totally unclear. I wasn't talking about any potential legal problem here, but rather about the fact that the source code that invites users into the trap would have to be distributed along with the binaries. This invitation, as well as the firmware that's also there, but that could be stripped off without GPL infringement, if it's in separate files, are the social problem, and they will be there regardless of whether the binaries have the firmware loader disabled.

Divergence is expected, if unfortunate, and not a major concern. Submitting patches to help fix the social problem we're concerned with is pointless, it was tried before and Linux developers don't appear to be interested in helping fix it.

That said, I'm probably going to give it another shot, with at least part of the plan proposed in the announcement. It might help reduce divergence, and it might be that Linux developers are not sufficiently opposed to the idea of telling Free from non-Free firmware that it might go in. Who knows? Maybe they'll surprise me and buy into it all, as an option ;-)