It is only affecting Fedora and openSuse. Not affected are Arch, Gentoo, Ubuntu and Debian.
* The hardware-acceleration is within the hardware and not in software - that is why it is named *hardware acceleration*. Fedoras decision doesn't make sense.
* In Europe you cannot patent software - because you cannot patent logic. Sometimes software-patents are granted because the patent system is dysfunctional but these patents get revoked when challenged.
* I doubt you can even defend a "software-patent" in America if challenged.
* RedHat is weakening its position of Fedora (and of Linux) historically by similar decisions. Fedora is working well on desktops and laptops. But it is not acceptable for end-users to add extra repositories from RPMFUSION to get basic features working. The success of Canonicals Ubuntu is building up on this.
* They're not removing it for Fedora <= 36. Removing features is evil. Ff Fedora is certain about their point-of-view they had to remove it, too?
https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=33638975
I think someone within the AOM needs to tell Qualcomm in polite words that another decade of missing hardware-acceleration and patent-trolling is not acceptable.
If you're worried about software-patents. I recommend moving the legal domicile and hosting servers to Europe. I'm sorry America but your mistake. The original intent of the patent system is proper documentation for the public. Instead it is used for hindering other upon improving existing ideas for decades. And lawsuits.
PS: Fedora is working excellent on laptops on desktops. While I prefer Arch personally, I do install Fedora on every computer of a "normal" person which is not within IT. It just works. Fedora is doing a good. But only if I add RPMFUSION first.