Since you're quoting my post, I can't but help replying.

First of all, I didn't say anything about GSM/GPRS. In fact, the GSM modem is supposed to be accessible through the Phonet protocol, which has an open source driver in the mainline kernel. It is true that Maemo 5 uses a proprietary phone stack on top of that, but then there still is Ofono, which is in an experimental stage for the moment, but is already shaping up nicely.

Secondly, I disagree with your statement that there are valid reason to keep these components closed. The security argument is a invalid in my eyes. There should be no way to really destroy your battery from the software side in the first place. Make your batteries secure by themselves. Sure, you can still wear down the battery by incorrect charging or the user could replace it with a non-standard battery, but those are the kind of dangers you should expect when messing with such things.

The only valid reasons I see is brand protection, which is a real issue for companies such as Nokia. Third-party drivers are problematic, but this something where a big player like Nokia can help change things. Let's hope they continue to do so.