Other software dictators do exactly the same, but in a more underhanded and bureaucratic manner, which is worse. Yet their disciples call them "benevolent".
I can deal with Linus, but not with the latter. Linus strikes me as not being really serious or vindictive. It's just a colorful way of expressing himself.
Why people feel attacked by Linus words is a mystery to me.
And the *reality* is that there are no absolute guarantees. Ever. The "Rust is safe" is not some kind of absolute guarantee of code safety. Never has been. Anybody who believes that should probably re-take their kindergarten year, and stop believing in the Easter bunny and Santa Claus.