Having strong convictions and living in pain is cool if it makes a difference in the world. I'm not convinced RMS not using anything that has 'unfree' software makes any difference to anyone or anything. He's deluded himself into believing that he has more freedom than people who use closed source software.
I wonder if he wears a digital watch, owns a TV, drives a car, uses a printer etc etc. All of which have closed source software within.
You underestimate the signal he sends by instisting on free software.
If you look at the isolated incident of RMS insisting on only using machines where the software is free (as in freedom) it doesn't make mucha of a difference as you say.
But if you look at the greater picture where RMS is one of the premier advocates for free software it makes a huge difference. He gains credibility by the bucketloads by refusing to use nonfree software, and he can't be called a hypocrite - he actually acts as he preaches. Look at Jgrahamc's comment above for an example. Whether or not it gives him personal freedom I don't know.
> You underestimate the signal he sends by instisting on free software.
It's all about the signal: that's how discussions and politics follow. I have a friend who is strictly vegetarian because of the reactions and discussions that follow, even though he believes otherwise that we sometimes do more harm to our environment in subtle indirect ways (like a fruit company which would contribute to regimes in third world countries).
I think you're mistaken. RMS has changed the world exactly because his convictions are so strong that he lives by them in every little detail. If you notice it people that change the world almost always religiously live by what they preach. Their followers take notice of this and aspire to it. It becomes clear that here is someone that talks the talks and walks the walk without cutting corners. Thus they become leaders of a movement.
There are plenty of examples of this from Jesus to Nelson Mandela. It's not about being a martyr or experiencing personal pain, it's about holding true to your values no matter what. It's a very hard thing to do, but that is how you change the world.
I think you're vastly overplaying his significance in changes that would have happened anyway. I guess we'll just have to agree to disagree on that.
Also I disagree about being able to change the world best from extremist positions. The world isn't perfect. You have to be willing to compromise, and accept that you won't get everything you want (At least in one go).
Sure, extremists are sort of to be admired in how strongly they believe in their cause, and how they're often willing to die for it (Or put up with using a 9" computer), but I think far more is accomplished by moderate, compromising people who work toward their goals step by step.
For one thing, he's lost a potential audience - most people will simply write him off as a mad extremist hippy, and not listen to anything he says.
And how much difference has the whole 'free software movement' made when the whole of HN is salivating over perhaps the most closed device ever created with the iPad.
From another perspective, RMS's setup is also so much of a hair shirt that he'd be one of the hardest tech celebrities
for hackers to target. Especially considering he only infrequently connects to the Internet like a nuclear submarine surfacing to communicate with a satellite.
