Category error. 'Hackers' are not a homogenous group; you and ~sounds are not the same 'we'. In particular, the ones who have 'won' are not necessarily the same

Category error. 'Hackers' are not a homogenous group; you and ~sounds are not the same 'we'. In particular, the ones who have 'won' are not necessarily the same as those still exploring the potential of a free-all-information world. In the early 90s, both Bill Gates and Oracle Corporation expressed strong doubts or outright opposition to the idea of software patents. Later they 'won' and came to use software patents as competitive weapons. Had 'hackers', at that point of the ascension of Microsoft and Oracle, 'won' – meaning the only gracious move would be to agree that the software-patent regime was good for them? No, the 'hacker' category had broadened, and many of the people doing the most interesting work still justifiably despised software patents. Hackers and artists are creating systems for direct creative compensation, to replace the outdated idea of criminalizing digital reproduction. Others, who are not necessarily the same people who could (technically or socially) sell out for the "four houses and a private jet" you dangle, still prefer to build other radically uncensorable systems. Don't adopt them into your royal "we".