Can not agree more. There are multiple alternatives for open source EDA packages. I started using gEDA before the KiCad project even existed, so I mostly still work in gEDA. But I have done work in KiCad, it is probably more beginner-friendly than gEDA but I always seem to bump into things I miss from gEDA when doing a KiCad project.
In any case, with two mature (and I have heard other newer projects exist???) open source EDA packages available, it is frustrating to see open hardware projects still using proprietary cripple-ware.