Exactly right. As an aside, I think the key is to make sure the bully is actually right about what they're bullying. For example both Gnome (via Gnome Shell)

Exactly right. As an aside, I think the key is to make sure the bully is actually right about what they're bullying. For example both Gnome (via Gnome Shell) and Ubuntu (via Unity) have already realized that they need to be bullies to see through their grand new UI visions. That much can be inferred by how both projects are interacting with the community and the complaints/praise it generates. But in my opinion though, the bullies behind both Gnome Shell and Unity are objectively wrong in many of their design decisions, and as a result both products are deeply and perhaps even irreversibly flawed. Unfortunately, a bully by definition must continue bullying, damn the torpedoes; and that's how we end up with products that cause such a deep rift in the community, when in fact the opposite--majority praise at how things have improved--should be happening. Bullies are essential to good UI. It's a tragedy, though, when the bullies are wrong.