[usrbinbash]

> an API change is a very big deal, to be used only when the older version just can't work anymore

That's one opinion.

Another opinion is, that API and major version changes can be used whenever the maintainers of an open source project feel like it. No other reason is necessary. Because it's their project. They write the code. They don't have to justify that decision.

If a large portion of the projects userbase is unhappy about that, the project will lose traction and new project, or a fork, will arise.