quote "Is this independence even more important when the Board is only elected by a GA of 20 people (which is not representative of anything)?"

Out of 56 665 maemo members since inception...
if only 20 have the motivation to sign up to the GA ...
then from the remaining it boils down to:
A- left the community but their name is still on the roster.
B- stated inability to commit the time...(which is pretty sad ...since it isn't a huge commitment of time)
C- non-interest ...better known as Apathy. (which is even sadder)
D- are new members / device users just getting their feet under themselves..but desire and aim to be knowledgeable participating members in the future.
or the very rare..
E- one of the very precious few members who does contribute to the betterment of the community with help, fixes, etc ..but is not interested (for whatever valid reasons) in the running of the machinery of the community.
You aren't on the GA?
You don't look like a category "A" ...or you wouldn't be writing.
So...what is it..."B", "C" , "D" or "E"?

Some of your points are valid...and I believe should be stated...
but would be better voiced from a position of involvement....
but a stance of non-involvement while postulating what could or should be done is "critique from the bleachers"

As far as your statement "Participation in meetings should not require joining GA." goes...
That and/ or other similar statements like "Participation in <insert here> should not require joining GA."
I am most certainly against...and for these reasons for starters..

This place ... what we are is a meritocracy.
roughly meaning.. a voice and the right to speak is important ...
but being active ..deeds... speak louder....
and engender a sense of trust in the doing.
Hence from the actions, deeds, and continued involvement from many fellow members bettering our device lines, helping one another, and our community...
I trust them and their motivations.
That keyword is "many" ...I trust "many"...not "all"...the "many" I trust are the ones actively involved in our community.

Anyone can register on tmo...it takes a minute or two...
doesn't mean that they have earned (in my estimation) the right to insist, demand or critique anything...or of anyone who is working towards the community's betterment.

Making a username, a password, and confirming it is hardly merit enough for me to take someone seriously...believe in their decisions to change anything for the betterment of the community...
trusting the welfare of the community to people who simply registered at TMO is madness.
Hell...going through the paces of joining the GA ..I don't think that is merit enough either frankly...(I'm personally much more militant than that in my view) ..but it is a good start ...
It separates the active participating members from the 50 000- odd thousand who
a- don't come at all anymore ...
b- could care less what happens
c- have little to no inclination or motivation
d- are new members / device users just getting their feet under themselves...but desire and aim to be knowledgeable participating members in the future.

Sure the GA needs to grow...
Sooo.... join.
and don't stop there..help maintain, salvage, preserve, fix, or write new stuff...
I'm not just saying this to you either....
Lots of members should be more active...
To voice an opinion or view or stance here...
is an inherent given that you wish to be heard, understood, believed, accepted, and respected.
I know I don't say stuff without the desire for the same.
I hear and understand you...but belief, acceptance and respect ...(at least from me) ...are the result of the individuals' sweat equity done here for everybody. It's earned..not just granted.
And it goes further than that ..... the pack of buggers here.. have weaseled there way into my heart ...and I consider them my good friends...even Klinger, Amboss, Win7Mac and Juice ...ok you too peter ..