[NSMeta]

I, for once, don't see a problem with getting paid doing open-source software.

With kickstarter I get an assumption that if for some reason he won't raise enough money - he won't work on the project. That, in my opinion, is wrong. It shouldn't matter if one raises money or not, as long as you like what you're doing. Otherwise why bother in the first place?

[dpritchett]

Opportunity cost. If the world can't come up with $25k to fund this project, then it must not actually have enough of a market to be worth Yehuda's time. He can go find something else to do for $25k worth of his time that will likely benefit someone more than this would have.

It's not like we're investing $25k of angel funds to have him build something that he is then going to sell for $500k without sharing the profits. We're simply paying the living expenses of someone who wants to solve a perceived need for the development community.

[chc]

This might just be me, but here's my point of view: I like writing software. It's pretty enjoyable. But you know what's more enjoyable? Eating. Having a roof over my head. Being able to pay for my wedding without selling any major organs. If the time I spend writing software detracts from those other things, I'm sorry, but the software either has to go or has to pay for itself. If you want to be absurdly altruistic, you are free to do as you will, but I don't think it's reasonable to demand it from Yehuda, especially as he's already given so much.