I think the difference between Maemo and other software communities is the passion that develops behind the system when someone has a chance to experience Maemo. In this regard, even regular users become enamored with both the underlying technology and the people within the community. Then, what we're left with is a bunch of amazingly talented users who go out of there way to help make Maemo better (or try to anyway).

From what I've seen in other communities (and I've been both a member and admin for quite a lot of them over the years), a divide between users and developers never really goes away. People either come to (a) develop software (or supply patches and/or mods) or (b) to get help (but not necessarily stick around).

The Maemo Community has found itself with a bunch of users who want to learn more -- and some who have even become developers by sticking around long enough.

Pretty crazy. And cool.

Tim