>>57
I don't know where you get that dichotomy from but RMS doesn't present GNU-brand free software as the only choice for free software. If this was the case, RMS would have forked the Xfree86 project to have a GNU branded X server. RMS encourages people to license their software under the GPL and has no problem with any other licence that permits the essential freedoms. RMS may not recommend people to use the CDDL (for the reason that it's not compatible with the GPL), he would happily recommend a CDDL'd program over a proprietary program.
Proprietary software is evil because users are not permitted to control the software and so, the developers maintain control over the users. Since users do not have control, it's quite possible for the developers to include user hostile features such as privacy encroaching features or DRM.
RMS started the GNU project because all software was historically free by default. At his time, people started taking software and making it proprietary. In order to deal this trend of locking up software into proprietary software, RMS began the the GNU project as a way to provide a software system that will always remain free.
I think you're making a mistake by implying that software freedom belongs only to people who have any skill in programming. Users can have absolutely zero aptitude in programming and still benefit from freedom. How? Users only need to find someone who can help: they can ask a friend for help or they can hire a professional programmer/IT guru for any sort of assistance.