I agree. A good library or Framework allied with the basics of the language and some knowledge of best practice probably go a lot further than people give credit for. I too learned BASIC (BBC-Basic) and had a lot of fun with it. Was taught PASCAL and Modula2, but I struggled with C. Pointers and memory management and the lack of instant feedback that you get with BASIC really put me off. I spent years with some 4GLs and database specific languages before a very well structured, framework heavy proprietary OO language eventaully took me to Java, which is where I am now. However, I will be revisting C and ObjectiveC in order to do something with the iPhone. It's not nearly as daunting now as it once was.

Well, the FSF philosophy of "Software wants to be Free" is a blanket which applies to all software, even when it makes no sense to apply that philosophy. As I pointed out elsewhere in this discussion, there's really no difference between cloning an operating system from open code and cloning a software platform from an open api. Philosophically, however, RMS deems the open API clone to be morally wrong in this case, because the API is controlled by Microsoft.
I guess my point is that there are a lot of grey areas which this black and white philosophy doesn't really fit. Finally (before I butt out!) the End User of a nuke system isn't necessarily the owner of that code, but your stipulation of "wanting the ability to be absolutely certain of where it[the nuke] will go when they push that Big Red Button" would probably be covered by a restrictive "non-Free" licence. :)

You, the end user, may not be the owner of the software in question. In that case, I have every right to stop you from fiddling with the naviagtion software for my nukes, or the avionics software in my aircraft, or the transactional software in my payment settlement system.

So, Gnash is OK because the developers hate Flash because it's proprietary to Adobe? This whole thing is truly laughable. I don't see how reverse engineering a platform from an openly published API spec is any different to reverse engineering an operating system by reading and understanding its source code. Maybe Stallman really did hate UNIX after all.

Wish I had mod points. It's sad how people here on /. love to bash Steve Jobs, but when it comes to RMS, they have multiple orgasm.

The tail wags the dog, as is usual in politics. Which dog is Senator Leland Yee wagging? Or, perhaps more pertinently, who's Yee being wagged by? And why? There's usually some special interest group, or someone who stands to gain...who is it?

now if she had said, "show me the money shot" i would have had some sympathy.

Dear Mr President, You really should be buying American products in order to stimulate economic recovery in the United States of America. May I take this opportunity to remond you that MICROSOFT is an AMERICAN CORPORATION! BUY AMERICAN! BUY AMERICAN! We love you, Mr President Sincerely, Steve Ballmer