> There's something fundamentally broken about the open-source model when you can invest so much time and npt get any sort of economic return. This seems like a huge limiting factor on open-source development.

The problem we have is that OSS creators don't realize, and often willfully ignore, the fact that nothing about opensource says you can't charge for delivering value to people. Sure, their ability to copy it themselves and do stuff might reduce your leverage, but I can almost promise you that a company which generates $10,000,000/year of revenue and relies on your software, will throw money at you if you ask. Especially if you say something like "You know, since you're not paying me for this, I can totally stop maintaining it at any point and then you'll be fucked because your business relies on this".

But many engineers don't like to be business people. So here we all are.

It's really not that hard: Do people's livelihoods and businesses rely on your work? Are you improving people's lives? Charge.

Doing it for fun and no interest in making a business? That's fine, but don't expect to make a living off of a thing you're not charging money for.