because currently gcc maintenance is almost "free" (in comparison to maintain gcc which is as big a project as linux) and they just have to work with the powers

because currently gcc maintenance is almost "free" (in comparison to maintain gcc which is as big a project as linux) and they just have to work with the powers that be over at gcc. That's much better than forking it and having yet one more HUGE project to maintain independently. The advantages of sticking to the current policy FAR outweigh the disadvantages.