I think we have very different views. Let me outline some differences:

1. I think MorphOS for the forseeable future has zero commercial
potential as a platform.

Although there is some room for licensing components (such as a driver
for embedded use, or such) or for using MorphOS expertise and code
base for special paid projects, thereby making it possible for MorphOS
developers to get something back financially, I think there are no
commercial options for MorphOS as an OS. Not as a consumer OS, not as
an embedded OS, not at all.

2. I think getting involved with money when there isn't much of it is
a road to disaster.

We've already seen it and it can happen again. Money may not be the
root of all evil, but when expectations do not meet reality it quite
commonly breaks up friendship and destroys cooperative spirit.
Besides, administrating such things take up a lot of time and is
boring work, which is completely useless when there is next to no
revenue anyway.

3. I don't think it's crucial that the MorphOS user base grows
rapidly.

It's possible that some "bright minds" have left (though I've seen
little proof of it, there doesn't seem to be a great mass of used
Pegasoses available). But I'm not sure it matters. It seems to me that
the people leaving (many or few) probably had false expectations:
they expected MorphOS to be a commercial success, or they just wanted
to toy around with frequent updates they wouldn't really use anyway
and updates haven't been frequent enough to fill up their time. People
who really want to do something with MorphOS are not leaving as far as
I can tell - there's quite a lot to do, all it takes is inspiration,
skill and persistance. To me it's important that MorphOS attracts
inventive developers, not so much users, "bright minds" or not.

4. I think MorphOS as a hobby OS is quite attractive.

I don't believe MorphOS will take over the world, but a team (and a
community) driven by passion, rather than money or the ambition to
attract lots of users, has a unique possibility to create an OS that,
at least in parts, offers something new and progressive. Such
improvements can then live on in future OSes regardless of whether
MorphOS survives or not. There are too many hurdles for such a small
OS to be able to offer everything a regular user would want, or even
to compete favourably with embedded systems. But I believe it is
possible to remain attractive for people who are willing to lag behind
in certain areas in order to enjoy what is special about MorphOS. If
this base consists of enough developers and users to act as
betatesters and keep up some sense of community, I think MorphOS can
survive. Maybe one day there will be some commercial possibilities,
but I don't see it today. And it's not really important to me.


[ Edited by merko on 2006/3/30 17:39 ]