Well Mer is a combination of Ubuntu and newers Maemo, instead of Ubuntu it could be any other as OpenEmbedded, OpenWRT, etc. I think is easier for Stskeeps base it on Ubuntu because the Debian heritage simpliflyng all Mer package management. IMHO there should be another category for Maemo based alternatives as it doesn't fall in the Debian category...

Too it is important again IMHO a Mer subcategory in alternatives because remember that Freemantle will only work on newer hardware and in the future ppl will like newer releases for N770 and N8x0 devices and _ONLY_ Mer will fill that hole and it could be a mess ppl posting Mer questions in all places /me thinks.