what matters most: a working, stable kernel for the masses or softly massaged developer ego's ?
to me it is Obvious that people like this mr Cook do not understand that they are toying with something that needs to work, no matter what.
Linux is running our society. your elevator, your car, your aeroplane. your power grid, your gaspipes,
whatever you can think of: some critical part is controlled by the Linux kernel.
mr Torvalds is not insulting people, but he is very explicit about their actions when they are being irresponsible about the physical safety of millions / billions of people on this planet.
that's all there is to it.