I have to agree, but don't forget that for Microsoft in particular, it doesn't have to be that way. VS Code does _NOT_ have so many contributions because GitHub is owned by Oracle.
The Chrome browser didn't catch on because it was outstanding to start, it caught on because Google pushed it through their Search platform. Microsoft now owns a source code channel (GitHub) that they can push any project through just like Google did with Chrome using Search However, you're currently correct (at least I believe) as Microsoft hasn't fired a bullet into their new channel just yet because, it appears they *think* VS Code is the equivalent to source code as what Chrome is to a web browser... which it isn't (not unless it starts stealing people's code).
KDE is obviously a different story from Google or MIcrosoft, but in some aspects project contributions that added "new" functionalities really did make certain projects "happen". For instance, is there a more advanced default browser than Dolphin? Undoubtedly no. Is there a more advanced default GUI editor than Kate? I don't think there is. But, I wouldn't be surprised if ALL proposed syntax highlighting patches were rejected as Kate has long, long accepted user defined highlighting. With any more features desired from Kate, then one might want to start looking at Code::Blocks and various other IDES more suited.