He didn't kill someone's puppy, he just published some interesting data that others' code struggled to cope with. He was irresponsible perhaps, but I don't think he foresaw doing any real damage, and I don't think he needs to be especially sorry for it.
I haven’t compared it with killing someone’s puppy. I just think that it would genuinely be helpful to explain a little bit of the rationale and any insight gained from the totally predictable but apparently “unforeseen issues” [1].
It’s the world of worse is better and they’re going for the widest possible area of effect. Should we crucify these guys? 100% not. Part of this is on npm’s design and implementation. Part of it is cultural.
But these guys owe the people who were needlessly “inconvenienced” a little more than just the word “apologize”. Not their first born but some rationale which justifies or reveals that they realise it was a bit pointless or stupid.
