[digging]

> What's the economic incentive for WP Engine to give back? They have a moral duty, sure, but as a business where is the profit?

Avoiding this exact situation which kills their business

[tacker2000]

What do you mean? They should pay up and submit to extortion and the whims of one guy?

They have 0 duty to do anything for WP. And thats also how WP got big. If everyone had to contrbute back, would the ecosystem be so big and WP be used everywhere? I doubt it.

[digging]

> They should pay up and submit to extortion and the whims of one guy

Not necessarily, just saying that "extract only, never give back" has some inherent risk as a strategy. It could piss people off or it could dry up the well.

[patmcc]

This situation might kill one of WP Engine or Wordpress.com, but I sure wouldn't bet on it being WP Engine that ends up in the grave.

[ziddoap]

>Avoiding this exact situation which kills their business

This situation is not going to kill WP Engine.