Comment by b112

which only really took off in the 2000's when companies like IBM started caring.

Correlation is not causation.

What I lived through, was Linux taking off like a juggernaut, and IBM embracing it as a result. Large corps came along for the ride, they didn't drive it and at best paid for some gas.

DEVs being paid is simply what it is. The entire scsi/sata stack was originally re-authored by 3ware for example.

Why?

To sell stuff, and the guy was an advocate too.

It's always been this way, under the great wonder of the GPL, blessed be it.