> why does AMD need to be in the kernel? Why can't they release the way nVidia does? Perhaps it was strategically important to them to be upstream (marketing p

> why does AMD need to be in the kernel? Why can't they release the way nVidia does? Perhaps it was strategically important to them to be upstream (marketing point, driver ubiquity)? It may not be the year of Linux on the Desktop, but GNOME and the like are well-placed to grow in usage over the next 5 or so odd years. As others here have said, that other than for average desktop users, I don't see this as being as important to more technical Linux users (including corporate).