Embedded Linux Flag Version

i) Will vendors actually send fixes upstream, despite the fact that they will be "helping" their competitors by doing so...?
ii) Will out-of-tree/binary drivers be provided for anything other than the flag versions?

I think a "flag"/stable version is great as it should make life easier for everybody, but I do hope to see the resources won from this rationalization "donated" back to upstream.

I'm hoping for the best...