One of the great things about software is that it doesn't wear out from over use. So what if there are a bunch of router companies selling proprietary products

One of the great things about software is that it doesn't wear out from over use. So what if there are a bunch of router companies selling proprietary products consisting largely of (permissive) Free Software components? It does not harm to those projects; in fact, they probably get more bug reports and other fringe benefits. So what if someone's making money off those components; is that money somehow being taken from the authors? No. That would be a claim far more dubious than even the RIAA's. We can ask "what if those components were copyleft?", and I can think of three answers: 1) All of this whizz-bang technology we have will also be copyleft, and hence Free Software. 2) We'd have completely unknown, secret, proprietary technology in its place. This would presumably be less capable, more locked-down, less secure and likely much further behind than what we have now (since it had to be written from scratch). 3) We wouldn't have that kind of technology, since nobody finds it profitable enough to develop. Scenario (1) wouldn't be an inevitability if those components were copyleft. Those companies aren't "getting away" with using Linux; they're using it in a perfectly legitimate way. If you find that usage unethical (like I do) then strive to: 1) (ideally) Replace their technology with something better. 2) (acceptable) Avoid using it (we managed for thousands of years without issue). 3) (unfortunate) Put up with it, but support those who are trying 1 and 2. This is the approach I take, for example with regards to social networks.