The problem with random theorizing on the web (and I include myself in the category of people subject to this critique) is that it often causal theories are presented without evidence or with only anecdotal evidence. Moreover, evidence and arguments are often used to delineate amongst classes of people whose mode of division actually has nothing to do with the causal theory being presented.
[Those sharp observers among you will note that the previous sentences were, themselves, examples of precisely these kind of errors. The observation of this observation may itself be kind of hypocritical. Turtles all the way down and all that. Let's denote this phenomenon Observation One and be done with it.]
Such is the case with this argument:
The linked post makes two points. Front end software lives and dies by usability and that open source projects offer inferior user experiences. While I disagree with both points (for example, I doubt even a fully feature rich usable open source equivalent would replace Photoshop or that open source projects lack focus on user interface issues), I’d like to point out that the arguments presented actually have nothing to do with “open source” versus “closed source.”
[If this were the case than all software developed under a closed-source model would always be a more user friendly experience than software developed under an open source model. I don't think this is true, though it appears true because bad closed source software tends to disappear into the ether of intellectual property, never to be heard from again. (Also note that I fully acknowledge that this is another example of Observation One.)]
The causal argument presented does not have anything to do with the open or closed nature of development. Instead, the argument depends on the disposition of the developers, whether they work for BigSoftWareCompany or HippyLinuxCommune.
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