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There were multiple successful open source projects here where companies payed for taking part of the planning of new features. Google already pays for the built-in default search for Firefox, I don't see a reason why other services couldn't be built in as long as the user gets something in return and keeps its privacy/freedom.

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Like Pocket/etc.? I seem to remember the userbase of sites like this excoriating Mozilla for including that, so I would assume any such effort now would be similarly rejected.

Pocket was a too strong integration probably. Offline browsing on mobile phones is still a missing feature, and pocket doesn't solve it well. Firefox could have added the necessary features for a great pocket plugin (and its competitors) instead of just integrating with it (and buying it).

Blender is a much more successful example (and there was another open source project here on HN with $300k income where companies could pay for features to be implemented, but still not company specific).

Pocket is fine as a concept, but people didn't like getting spammed with it on their new tab page.

I like the Pocket spam because it is a low key way to support the project.

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