[ctde]

the point being that there was a time (some greybeards might remember) where contributing to the linux kernel wasn't "work" but a fun hobby

[alistairSH]

Sure, but that time was nearly 30 years ago. Linux has been "mainstream" since at least August 1999.

[arp242]

Why August 1999? Seems quite specific?

[ctde]

people like me contributed their freetime afterwards still