[AstralStorm]

Indeed, but they do have policies, high level approaches and big decisions too.

The problem with this kind of direct democracy is the same as with all diplomacy - astroturfing, focus groups, demagoguery and unintended consequences.

Focus groups make diffuse votes matter less despite being more prevalent. (Overwhelming majority in some cases.) Astroturfing is a kind of diffuse bribery. Unintended consequences is most often when people are presented with a package deal and do not dig deeply enough to figure out results. Finally demagoguery is usually by presenting a palatable but highly inferior option or by going for short term bandaid solutions.

The latter two are less relevant to a programming language project.