This is not true. I know people that have contributed code to Android that don't work for Google (etc.) and that have their code on released devices now. Sure, someone may have already fixed the bug by the time you get to see the source code, but if the bug is obscure enough, your code is as good as anyone else's. (Also, features are probably always welcome.)
I'd argue that that is the big omission. Wherever you come down on Android itself, Cyanogenmod clearly meets the author's criteria for openness, is a technical standout in a new area and it has had a very big 2011.
