>>> I'm getting something for free that is actually superior to the paid stuff, and sometimes those giving it to me need to feed a kid or two, or buy their Mrs that new outfit on the high street.
Classy. You get my vote for that and subsequently pointing out that "They don't even force me to do it because I can turn it off". This.
I also liked the way you ended it. We definitely need RMS, but he definitely needs to choose his battles wisely.
But why not present it as an option to the user on first launch, or first search? Considering how relatively few people actually want shopping suggestions on their desktop, I expect the majority of users who don't turn it off to be people who simply can't be bothered to find the setting and change it. Exploiting user apathy is not my idea of software that respects its users, which is what the FSF is all about.
Because, realistically, given choice upfront most will probably choose to disable it even though they won't mind it if its there. When installing an OS I don't want many questions. I just want to get on with it. Ask me a question and you won't get my full attention and given the option to disable something I might just disable it.
Maybe a compromise is a notice while installing that the default is to search with Amazon and instructions on how to disable it. Those who really mind it can find their way there after the OS is installed.
The difference is that - for a chunk of people - this functionality isn't crap. It's actually useful.
It's out of the way for people who don't care. It's there for people who do. I've seen folk go "that's so cool" when the amazon stuff came up.
This stuff is much closer to the adds folk get in Google search. It's often relevant to what they're doing at the time.
Classy. You get my vote for that and subsequently pointing out that "They don't even force me to do it because I can turn it off". This.
I also liked the way you ended it. We definitely need RMS, but he definitely needs to choose his battles wisely.