The reality is some companies simply wouldn't contribute open source projects if they didn't have the flexibility afforded by requiring contributors sign a CLA.

The reality is some companies simply wouldn't contribute open source projects if they didn't have the flexibility afforded by requiring contributors sign a CLA. Maybe you would consider that preferable, but I don't. They have a right to require a CLA, just as I have a right to not contribute if I don't want to sign a CLA.