As I read this, I can't help but think of how much easier it would be to get a "regular" Linux distribution running on most of the MikroTik routers if they would upstream -- or release or even
publish -- their changes, kernel configurations, and such.
Instead, they're basically selling devices running a "proprietary" Linux and, IMO, leeching off of the kernel development community and others.
Fortunately, the OpenWRT community has, over the years, managed to get OpenWRT running on many of the MikroTik devices. (Occasionally, depending on the particular device, there's a "performance hit" due to hardware acceleration that doesn't work without binary blobs from the vendor, for example, but they've certainly managed to make these devices for those of us who would prefer to not touch RouterOS!)
Instead, they're basically selling devices running a "proprietary" Linux and, IMO, leeching off of the kernel development community and others.
Fortunately, the OpenWRT community has, over the years, managed to get OpenWRT running on many of the MikroTik devices. (Occasionally, depending on the particular device, there's a "performance hit" due to hardware acceleration that doesn't work without binary blobs from the vendor, for example, but they've certainly managed to make these devices for those of us who would prefer to not touch RouterOS!)