The best justification for this attitude is that it's the most encouraging of open source development. Other attitudes raise the cost of open source development -- considering that it's already a losing proposition (w.r.t. lost time + opportunity) -- and will result in less quality open source software. People just won't put the work in if all they get back is this entitled bullshit.
I feel as though there's a certain developer entitlement that also needs addressing though. Just because you made a software doesn't mean I have to use it or like it, and if you are actively trying to recruit me to use it then I am indeed entitled to complain about it.
I see it frequently in the FOSS community where someone will suggest some software they made to solve a problem, get told why their software isn't actually that good for the problem, become defensive about it, and then try to play the "entitled user" card.
The opinion that the software isn't that good for the problem is cheap to state, and unless the circumstances are exceptional, I would argue it quite reasonable to see it as entitlement.
If someone is terribly dressed according to my taste but brags about how amazing the garb is, I'm not going to tell them how they are wrong unless absolutely necessary because of exceptional circumstances.
Neither does most people who respect others right to their own body, and creativity.
I don't ring up the artists after visiting a gallery to tell them how their art is done, not unless I'm an ass.
Source code is not much different, it is an expression of technical competency, art, taste, and fashion.
If someone asks for feedback, sure, your points are not wrong.
In practicing social dancing, asking if someone wants feedback before giving it generally works out really well. Most people want feedback if you give them the power to choose for themselves, but quite a few really do get hurt if it is unsolicited. There will be some people that get slightly annoyed that you ask, as they prefer more direct approach, but neither they or anyone else get hurt.
Something similar probably works for open source projects too. Engage seriously for a bit, and only then ask if your input on your particular issues would be interesting to the other party.
> If someone asks for feedback, sure, your points are not wrong.
If they're actively asking me to use their software, isn't that soliciting feedback? If I say 'no, it won't work for me', I've apparently committed some egregious microaggression right? If I just say 'no thanks', what do expect the very next thing they say is going to be?
Who said they're actively asking you? I'd say most smaller open source (e.g., single dev) projects are "here's what I built, maybe it's useful for you too."
>> Just because you made a software doesn't mean I have to use it or like it, and if you are actively trying to recruit me to use it then I am indeed entitled to complain about it.
That is what I wrote. That is entirely the context of what I said.
