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Yeah, when you see that uTorrent is still popular[1][2], after their introduction of ads 5 years ago and the removal of important features like streaming, in a population that know how to torrent. Doubtless VLC with ads will still have an important market share for at least 10 years.

[1] https://trends.google.com/trends/explore?date=today%205-y&q=...

[2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Usage_share_of_BitTorrent_clie...

The same people who use uTorrent most definitely use VLC.

Yes, and a lot of them will continue to use it, even if VLC introduces ads, because it's what they are familiar with. I am making the same point as you — I think.

Yes, and I would be a millionaire. But that would not be moral.

Most people today don't even know what moral is.

possible.

Someone suggested that in the AMA. Take the cash, then fork and let users migrate. OP then used the word "morale".

It is not so simple. Many users would be left on the sidelines and the trust would be damaged forever.

If something like this had happened I would have migrated the machines I maintain for sure but probably not to the VLC fork.