If the ui guys came to the code monkeys with data about user acceptance and comparative task success rates, instead of "complies with usability principles" and "will make it easier for granny" when their suggested changes indeed do remove features from the code monkeys (who tend to be expert users), they code monkeys might object less.
And that makes it pretty hard to improve FOSS UIs without company backing all the usability testing that needs to get done. Where as the coding part can be done reasonably cheaply, usability testing starts to cost as it's pretty hard trying to find anyone to participate for free. Essentially any usability expert would need to put in his own money in addition to his own time to contribute.
Marriage is the sole cause of divorce.