I am not fanatic of Google and I am a linux s/w developer but I think you misunderstand a little in the last sentence -

The Linux community way of maintaining kernel is not very compatible with commercial production. It is pretty troublesome to keep development of commercial product without a reliable way to make your patches working. You do a patch/development and put it in kernel. Later that patch is considered bad - but nobody consult with you about mainstream development and make agreement what to do and you should spend money for fixing things which are working. But you are bound with contracts, obligations and schedules and spending money on commercial product development.

Moreover, you do a patch but there is no a reliable way that your patch will be included in any form (even adjusted) in mainstream build... Would you like to establish a solid commercial plan on this shaky ground?