That doesn't follow - both vi and emacs have been able to be aware of each other and if necessary incorporate techniques from each other, and yet they both exis

That doesn't follow - both vi and emacs have been able to be aware of each other and if necessary incorporate techniques from each other, and yet they both exist separately. At no point did I argue that we should prevent people from making two separate products if they want. I only argued that we should prevent people from keeping research and discoveries secret, and gave an example that different products could build on each other. vi and emacs have in fact had that opportunity, so this example supports my point that it's a reasonable way for the world to work. Sometimes building on each other means collaborating; something it means friendly and open competition for the sake of taking multiple approaches to a goal (which is different from competition-for-the-sake-of-competition by forcing your competitors to walk the same path you already walked, but several steps behind you). Also, spacemacs.