They simply wish the actual kernel developers just surrendered & weren't in the way of new Rust code. Maybe if these guys wrote C for a living some 10 years or so, became maintainers in their own right, and THEN brought these ideas forward—they would have the chance. But you can't come to the other people's projects, and seriously expect them to just nod ahead to everything you have to say, surrender your concerns, and act like they owe you sommat.
I'm glad this conversation is happening, though.