I'm reliefed that development progressed again this year. You don't want to invest time on a dead editor.
And this is why it's important for your editor to be free software. Emacs isn't going anywhere, and they don't have unjust control over my computing.
I don't understand this. What is unjust about a software author charging for their work? I and many others are happy and willing to pay.
Nothing, but using a nonfree license gives the developer unjust control over you.