Not every user monitors every single goings on with their software. There is also no mention of the software becoming proprietary on the October CMS website. Users shouldn't have to keep tabs on their free software for fear of it becoming proprietary due to a hostile takeover.
This is completely user-hostile and bordering on malware now. Though by your insistence of saying "OSS" I have a feeling you and GP don't actually care about software users, only developers.
I'm a little sad this comment was dead and I couldn't respond earlier...
ANYWAY:
>the vast majority are simply uninterested in such pursuits
I really think this is an "image" problem. I'd say the majority of people are uninterested in technology, so the numbers are already low. But it also has a huge connotation of the people who DO like it being white/asian nerds, or affluent people who can afford to go to college for computer science. People want to fit in, no one wants to be alone. And if you're just some black kid, you're going to feel really out of place. Even if no one is being racist to you, you're still going to FEEL alone (even if you're not). And that's not fun.
This isn't just a tech problem. Think about welders or metalworkers. I think about bearded, husky white guys. But I'm sure there's plenty of girls who think swords kick ass but don't want to feel like an outsider. It's understandable for people to feel this way.
It's like the complete opposite of the Utopian Hacker idea where just your contributions matter, nothing else. About how good or enthusiastic you are, not about WHO you are. I don't think any single group or initiative can get rid of stereotypes with careers or subcultures. I'm not even sure if it CAN be done.
It feels like these programs were started by people who aren't teachers. Piano teachers don't have students who like Jazz start out by playing some whacked up complicated chord progressions, they start them out with something simple and build up to the hard stuff.
Something like Processing or some other easy and intensely audio/visual programming interface would be much better since it's made with that in mind and produces near instant feedback.
I really hate these faux-grassroots programs. I've never seen these people host any events near me, and I live in a fairly large inner city area. If individual nerds can consistently have meetups every month there isn't any excuse especially with how much money they seem to be getting. The past events page is also...depressingly barren.
But they're getting that sweet sweet investor $$$ from Nike and AT&T!
ADA also says these accommodations need to be readily achievable. Considering the income level of people working at rideshares, it's really not achievable and extremely unfair.