Comment by dcow

Yeah I’m also confused by this. Debian has an opportunity to reiterate that free software isn’t just a pipe dream volunteer effort but rather that there is business being software authorities without the baggage of a slew of software patents and terms and license agreements. Perhaps if they paid core maintainers it would ostracize other contributors who didn't make the cut? Perhaps they don’t want to become a Canonical and have to answer to steak holders? There’s value in being frugal but you also meed to know your own value or others will take advantage of you.