[clusterfish]

> A builder also doesn't get paid directly to maintain his toolset, that cost is included in how he charges for his services

Of course. That's not a problem, because the toolset isn't the builder's product. Their customers don't care about the toolset, they actually want the service. Conversely, most consumer software users don't want or need your services, they just need the software.

Moreover, that toolset you mentioned belongs to that builder only. It's not a resource shared by all the builders in the world, unlike open source software.

It's not surprising that people pontificating about the morality of copyleft vs proprietary don't even seem to understand the basic economic effects of shared ownership like the tragedy of the commons.