> Software engineering is a collaborative process, not an adversarial one.
The collaborative process itself is adversarial. Capitulating to others when their contributions go against one's goal compromises that goal. Sometimes compromise to achieve a lesser goal is better than failing to achieving the full goal. But, when stakes are high (and Linux stakes are enormous) compromised goals are less appropriate. Linux and Linus are in a position not to have to compromise the goal.
If you've worked in SWE for long enough, you'll run into this kind of socially maladjusted petty tyrant many times in your career. It's fascinating to see so many of these tyrants exposing themselves in this thread, though.
The collaborative process itself is adversarial. Capitulating to others when their contributions go against one's goal compromises that goal. Sometimes compromise to achieve a lesser goal is better than failing to achieving the full goal. But, when stakes are high (and Linux stakes are enormous) compromised goals are less appropriate. Linux and Linus are in a position not to have to compromise the goal.