(Author here.) Let me begin by noting that your comment, criticizing my courtesy, calls me "lazy," "cocksure," and "timid." Name calling is not compatible with

(Author here.) Let me begin by noting that your comment, criticizing my courtesy, calls me "lazy," "cocksure," and "timid." Name calling is not compatible with the basic courtesy you're calling for. Despite this, I'll respond to you with basic courtesy. As a maintainer of open-source projects myself, I hate it when people email me directly with questions. I ask that everyone use only public channels of communication, if only because that way everyone can benefit from hearing the answers. In my opinion, I showed courtesy and not "timidity" by not spamming Hamano's personal inbox. However, I recognize that not everyone feels this way, and so I have taken your point and I have emailed Hamano directly. (I hope he doesn't mind.) If he responds either on the git list or to me privately, I'll update the post.