[bheadmaster]

> I avoid GPL projects because I am a software developer and the idea of the project dictating how I can release my own source is a big FU to me.

GPL doesn't restrict how you can release your own source code - even if you release your project as GPL, you can still release it under MIT, or a commercial license - it's your code, and you're the copyright holder. The restrictions only apply to code derived from other GPL projects, but that isn't really "your code".

Your reason for avoiding GPL seems to be that you cannot take GPL code and release it under a non-free license. That's exactly the behavior that GPL is designed to prevent - the bottom line is users' freedom, not developers' convenience.