I think any company, whatever their motiviation, does a good thing by opening source for our inspection. Sure, maybe we won't have all the freedom we'd like, maybe the sources will be encumbered by restrictive licenses, maybe they'll be incomplete, but that's a heck of a lot better than the alternative, i.e. trying to develop for an absolutely opaque and buggy black box. If I can occasionally peek into the black box, lift its lid and shine a light on its inner workings, then my burden as a developer will be eased.

I don't think we can initially expect the likes of corporate America to jump into the open source ocean with both feet. They're gonna wade in slowly... Test the waters. But these baby steps are steps in the right direction. I applaud ESR and company for their efforts. I didn't ask 'em to represent me, but nevertheless I feel they're helping me and the community as a whole.