I'm interested to see how this ends up being resolved (I use Ubuntu, don't like Unity, and Gnome Shell looks to be just as bad) but have only been half-followin

I'm interested to see how this ends up being resolved (I use Ubuntu, don't like Unity, and Gnome Shell looks to be just as bad) but have only been half-following this drama. This is a really great summary post. I'm totally unsurprised that Shuttleworth's penchant for decision by fiat and Jobsian cargo-cultishness has driven a wedge between his company and others in the FOSS movement. (For example window controls, before windicators were announced: "Yesterday I decided to move window controls to the other side for our LTS. It's for a secret project. DO NOT ASK ME WHAT THE PROJECT IS."). But I'm also unsurprised that disorganization and what also appears to be at least a little ego and maybe even jealousy has warped things on the other side as well.