While I don't agree with his stance on a number of things, I find the consistency and unapologetic nature of posts such as these refreshing. This is the thing I believe. You don't have to, but here's why I think it's wrong not to.

A case can be made that they're too set in stone, with no flexibility - but isn't that what makes them principles? They are core beliefs and in absence of fundamentally view-altering events, they seldom see changes after we reach maturity. IMO if you find yourself rationalizing your way around your own principles, then what you have are a set of things you'd like to believe about yourself - which is quite a different thing.

For as many years as RMS has been in the public eye, I've never seen him rationalize away his principles for the sake of convenience. Agree with him or not, that's a rare thing and I can't help but respect it.