The SDK has always been relatively closed even before the Facebook acquisition. They've always touted it as being important for guaranteeing the quality of an experience which I don't necessarily disagree with but its also important for their goal of becoming the biggest VR software platform.

Oculus from the beginning was fairly big into locking down its ecosystem. I think its clear that it wants an Apple-like level of control where PC gaming turns into a console-like experience. This lock-in benefits them as their store would become the premier outlet for VR sales and Oculus would receive a juicy cut of every VR game sold. Also this would connect to Facebook's social VR ideals of a VR social network and all the privacy issues that come with that.

I completely disagree with this philosophy and don't think a simple peripheral should be a wedge into further lock-in in the PC gaming world. I just want to play games, not be a part of some weird Facebook 'trying to stay relevant' agenda or an Oculus 'trying to lock down VR' agenda.

Thankfully Valve has spoiled their plans by making a better VR system and an open-ish ecosystem. Valve doesn't pay for exclusives either.

If it was projects they owned and paid for? Probably.