Re: Audacity have announced a U-turn on plans to introduce "basic telemetry" into the product.
"Keep the forks ready, kids! This is absolutely going to be tried again, as Mr K does not seem to understand that telemetry is something he wants, not something the users want."
This is going to be an unpopular opinion...
Telemetry isn't necessarily bad - it very much depends on what is being communicated.
If the software checks for updates the first time it is started each calendar week, and that check includes a tag to say which version you are currently running, and on which platform, then that gives some idea to the developers which platforms are being most regularly used with their software - and potentially guides build/design decisions.
What *is* almost universally bad is identifiable data being hoovered up.
The other thing that is universally bad is telemetry that isn't truly consent driven (i.e. I am clearly asked AND I can say no without adverse effects on the operation of the system)
Various flavours of linux have package popularity (or equivalent) telemetry. Yes, it's very clearly opt in without negative consequence if I don't, but the point is that telemetry isn't necessarily evil.
Having a view of the features used by users can be useful beyond just seeing what bug reports they submit.
So yes - keep the forks ready, but those forks being ready might well be sufficient to keep the telemetry truly consent driven, and therefore "not an issue".