"Is there really a feeling that the "maemo.org crowd" and the "ITT crowd" are distinct and separate?"

IMHO, The Maemo crowd are and always have been primarily programmers and those who associate with programmers.

The ITT crowd are primarily not programmers.

Of course there are massive exceptions.

But to me, there is a big difference in cultures, causing the proverbial culture clash.

Take the idea of "contributing to the community," for example. I don't think this is that big of a concern to users. But to developers, it is a huge concern.

So, you have two different groups, one very large and one relatively small. When the large group is more or less forced to merge with the small group and adhere to its culture, you have the seeds of rebellion.

I would like to add that a big pretense is made that the new arrangement does not involve a significant power shift. But I heard, for example, discussions of rearranging forums and establishing moderators. This seems to me to mean that someone has power, and it's not me.

I'm not opposed to rearranging forums or using moderators, but it makes me uneasy that Maemo has the strongest cards in making these decisions (no one asked me about what I thought about not capitalizing the M, for example.) and its decisions will naturally reflect the opinions of its culture, not mine.