Well yeah, the GPL states that it needs to be trivially easy for end-users to replace the GPL chunk with their own code. Because in the past (Tivo) GPL code wa

Well yeah, the GPL states that it needs to be trivially easy for end-users to replace the GPL chunk with their own code. Because in the past (Tivo) GPL code was used against people. Two separate packages is the simplest way to do it. And I feel the 'no bundling' thing is a little over the top. As long as rtl_tcp was a separate file that you could easily replace, it seems it fit the letter of the license. I know I'm[1] not going to convince you, but the GPL exists for a reason as does the BSD. BSD puts the rights of the programmer first and foremost. This is useful at times, but it also lets bad apples ruin a code base. GPL puts protecting the code first. (And to a lesser extent, the end-user.) In the end, it means that GPL code is basically immortal because no one person/group can control the code base. [1] keenerd from rtl-sdr