Just because someone can't wring your hand doesn't mean they don't deserve to influence a project. Releasing work under a license like MIT is an act of benevole

Just because someone can't wring your hand doesn't mean they don't deserve to influence a project. Releasing work under a license like MIT is an act of benevolence since it's giving up leverage and relying on de facto leadership. It's the hardest kind of leader to be, since de facto leaders are only followed on merit. It's not unusual at all for folks who started projects to end up caving to political pressures and getting replaced by the sorts of people you're talking about. But every now and again a Medici comes along.