HN user
On a technical level I totally agree, supporting tweaks and quirks in a codebase is a massive pain in the ass.
That's not the reason that has been given here - there was no claim that the technology was difficult to bring up to current spec. The reason was that non-GNU platforms had better font handling and now that's not allowed for a GNU project.
It's not the FSF's point to have freedom of ideas? Then please explain what it's point is. You disagreed but haven't explained why.
If it's not "their" platform then how is it available elsewhere? If other distributors have access and can make it available then it is very much a GNU political standard and not a side effect the technology.
How are those platforms free if existing features have been removed due to politics? I stand by my point, 20 years ago the FSF was a foundation that wanted to make technology available to all - without having to worry about IP ownership. They have removed a feature that was technically sound due to it's status as a commercial work. How am I free to use this if I can only do so in designated zones?
20 years ago the FSF had some very forward-looking ideas. Now we have the ornery opinion of old men - it was good enough for us two decades ago, it's good enough for you now.
The point of free as in speech and not free as in beer is that the choice you make does not need to be right or wrong by the standards of other humans. Holding back technology because it's not available on "your" platform is just as monopolistic as any corporate entity they have butted heads with.
I whipped up a quick test in Ruby
"I didn't pay my bill, and my vendor shut down my service"
Is this really a surprise? Do you also get frustrated when your laptop runs out of battery and won't keep working, or how your car doesn't understand that you'll get gas tomorrow if it just keeps going?
Another vote for namecheap here. I switched over when old man Parsons took a lot of pride in his hunting videos. I'm not an activist or anything, but he could at least conduct himself with a bit of tact.