This does not paint a good picture for FreeBSD development. An operating system of that size and complexity surely needs someone company to sponsor the release

This does not paint a good picture for FreeBSD development. An operating system of that size and complexity surely needs someone company to sponsor the release manager full time, not part time for a year. I don't say this to besmirch FreeBSD, FWIW. I think it's very important that Linux is not the only game in town.