Maybe it would have been good if the git defaults were changed from the defaults used for the kernel development workflow to the git workflow ~everyone else is

Maybe it would have been good if the git defaults were changed from the defaults used for the kernel development workflow to the git workflow ~everyone else is using, even though git was created for the kernel people by the kernel people - most users are not kernel people. "git pull" in the kernel workflow is for integrating downstream changes into your own upstream repository. Meanwhile, "git pull" in the everyman workflow is for synchronizing your local changes with upstream changes (you know, re-basing your patches on upstream or something). Even the merge commits left behind by default git pull reveal this. "Merge branch master of ssh://yourorg-git/upstream" - completely backwards for what you are doing - you're merging the upstream into the downstream? What, your local repo is the boss now? Doesn't make any sense.