[InsomniacL]

> That's not nearly enough to sustain a competent developer

It doesn't have to be enough to sustain a developer, only enough to attract a developer who would have otherwise not bothered.

> but it is enough to make a project feel like work to a hobbyist

I really don't see how anyone would do something but then decide not to once they found out there is a reward.

[ori_b]

> I really don't see how anyone would do something but then decide not to once they found out there is a reward.

The people who can realistically claim the reward realistically can get better rewards elsewhere.

Once you shift the thought process from considering how much fun you have hacking into accounting how much you can make, people start spending time in a way to that will optimize earning potential. You start losing.

How many people paint for fun? Do you think they'd do it if it was a job that paid $3/hour?

[InsomniacL]

> The people who can realistically claim the reward realistically can get better rewards elsewhere.

Yes, but why does that mean someone who was going to do something no longer would. Or that someone who was tempted but wouldn't, still won't now there is more incentive.

> Once you shift the thought process from ... how much you can make...

I'm talking about a reward / incentive, not employment. JellyFin has a merch store, offer contributors some merch via vouchers or something!

> How many people paint for fun? Do you think they'd do it if it was a job that paid $3/hour?

Do you think that if everyone automatically received $3/hour for all hobby painting they did that nobody would paint anymore? I think they'd get a coffee with it and take a moment to look back on their work.

[ori_b]

When was the last time you committed to open source outside the context of full time employment? What motivated you to do it?