You're just explaining what a CLA does. There's pros and cons toward one. I for one don't see the problem. Yes, the maintainers retain control, and that can be

You're just explaining what a CLA does. There's pros and cons toward one. I for one don't see the problem. Yes, the maintainers retain control, and that can be good or bad. But contributors getting a portion of control can also be good or bad. One way is not strictly better or worse than the other. But if a project that has a CLA also has a currently permissive license, then take the supposedly open source route and fork it.