Some people think there's no point if you're not allowed to steal the code and not give back
How can one be allowed to steal something? Then it is by definition not stealing.
You know hebetube, my mother once said "if you have nothing nice to say: don't say it". You saying those things probably aren't going to make them turn over the license. "Project dead before it started" like who writes those kinds of things over someones work they spent time on. I'd love for you to explain your logic.