[bkuhn]

I would expect that most users of software that violates the GPL are not lawyers, so I don't see how your statement "in the end you're only helping lawyers" could possibly be correct: enforcement to gain compliance is never going to primary help lawyers in an event.

The law is a tool that can be used to achieve certain goals. Similarly, software is a tool that can achieve certain goals. We wouldn't suggest that people shouldn't use software (which, in turn, requires employing programmers) because "in the end, you're only helping programmers", would we?

I'm no fan of the legal profession: the only sticker I have on my laptop reads "Keep your lawyers off my computer". However, I work with lawyers a lot because they are experts on the law, and I (or my organization) can hire them to utilize the law to promote good in the world.

I find proprietary software abhorrent and those who write in my mind are doing something harmful. I find Free Software wonderful and those who write it in my mind are doing something wonderful. Similarly, some lawyers do good in the world and some do bad, just like programmers.