I don't think allowing "binary blobs" by default is a good idea. Allowing binaries built from "non-free" but publicly available source code is less of a problem, at least to me.
Certain chips are manufactured with an initialization code sequence that is generated very similarly to how an FPGA floor planning works.
It should be made clear this Debian Vote is to include Proprietary Firmware in the installer so it is possible for new users to install and try Linux. If it's not in the installer, new users just perceive that free software / Linux just doesn't work at all. That doesn't help anyone.
True enough, but Debian is trying to have a property - "this software is free!". If non-free stuff is included, it will no longer have that property.
I'm not going to second guess the Debian project, they are being reasonable. But guarantees that the software is free are important. New users are all very well, but the experienced users who make up the bulk of Debian's audience don't want to be drilling down into a bug and winding up running in to proprietary code.
The software is the way it is because it believes in freedom. Its successes are because it is free. If the point is to be cheap, go pirate windows or something.
Easy, run it through a disassembler, now you can compile it. ;)