... signaling behavior, like wearing a crucifix or yarmulke or pentagram - it helps build trust groups. But it has costs, too â" it creates a lot of needless fear from potential allies and users who suspect they wonâ(TM)t be able to control their exposure if they let it in.
He goes on to say
So the correct question to ask is this: Is the GPLâ(TM)s utility as a form of in-group signaling worth the degree to which fear and uncertainty about it slows down open-source adoption? Increasingly I think the answer is âoenoâ.
There's some useful discussion in the comments, but you'll probably have to wait until the slashdotting dies down before you can read them.
Given the huge number of Free/Open-Source games out there, it's natural that many of them suck. (And that's not counting the ones that were never finished.) It's also natural that commercial games win on immersive 3D graphics and other things that require big development teams. But there are some FOSS games that are absolutely terrific, and Wesnoth is one of them.
Many of the good things about Wesnoth are fairly obvious: quality music, good graphics, good in-game tutorials etc. Others are not so obvious: extensive playtesting, carefully tweaked scenarios. And one design choice that may look strange to modern console gamers turns out to be extremely clever: the hexagonal map and the lack of long-range attacks makes it relatively easy to write a superb AI.
Wesnoth has another unusual accomplishment: narrativist elements and hex maps in the same game.
Ask yourself if you really want to work for a company that would assume that anyone with your name is you [SNIP] Think of this as an IQ test of a potential employer. If one brings it up, point out to them, in detail, how easy it would have been to determine this wasn't you, then walk out of the interview and be thankful you've dodged a bullet.
Companies aren't homogeneous. There must be lots of firms with really poor HR departments but really great IT or Engineering departments. The trick is to get past the HR people, and having the same name as some undesirable makes that harder.
What hath Bob wrought?