>RMS does not have the skillset needed for a leadership position today.
Care to define what that skillset is? Leadership requires all sorts of skills and some of the most effective leaders I've seen share very little in common.
What you are describing is actually a popularity contest, not leadership.
I can see why you would be mistaken for confusing the two these days - it seems to be an insanely common misconception - but they are NOT the same thing and never will be.