We've always had stuff that falls off the face of earth. So what? The caravan continues on ... Sorry but i don't consider that a logically valid argument.
The very first module I contributed (feedback) illustrates a point: It was started in 2002 by someone called "barry". I had it working I took it over in 2004 with totally new code for Drupal 4.5. Then "fago" overhauled it a lot in 2006. Over time, the contact module in core came along, and I stopped using feedback. Then in 2008 "sun" took it over and repurposed it with new code. Well good that process worked out than, btw i am actually using the module ;) But from the experiences gained, how would you design such a module from scratch? How could it be integrated with other modules, what could be factored out into 'frameworks' (/library modules) ? That is the stuff each of the drupal code contributors needs to think about as early as possible in the D7 cycle, which would be right about.. _now_!
The "too many modules in contrib syndrome" can be taken as confusing, excessive, ...etc. but can also be taken as a sign of a healthy and vibrant community. Sure. But what is the prior goal of the Drupal project? To create a healthy vibrant community? Or to create the best open source CMS CODE out there (best accomplished through a healthy vibrant community)?
So what if we have a few extra gigabytes of code? So what if they become unmaintained? Uhhm sorry i don't share that so-what mentality. I want to have *all* the functionality spread over slightly different modules with the same purpose, combined into one flexible solution. And i am quite sure i am not the only one.
If we raise the barrier or block new entries we will be shutting ourselves off from being the platform for the new chx or the new merlinofchaos. Woow stop for a minute please.. so you're saying people like chx or merlinofchaos are not capable of adapting to coding standards and qualified to contribute code which can be worked on to raise over the ready-and-useful barrier to be included in the official Drupal repository?
It does not matter ... if it is the wild wild west, then let it be. It is a small price to pay for innovation and the power of the masses. But the thing is, sometimes innovation needs channeling. Granted, in the early phases of the industrial revolution it would have been counterproductive to regulate machines and processes in any manner, simply because not enough practical experience had been gained. But once a certain level of sophistication is reached, there is no way you want to live without agreed standard interfaces and common norms. Imagine todays industries without all the ISO standards for screws, bearings, gears, quality management.. What do you think which kind of a car would you drive if none of them would exist? In my opinion with D7 we have reached that level of wild life experience to benefit from a more ordered development process. To say again, why trade in quality for quantity/speed? Most people will be quite happy with D6 for years to come.
rgds marcel. -- "Obstacles are those frightful things you see when you take your eyes off your goal." -- Henry Ford (1863-1947) Change the world! Vote: http://hfopi.org/vote-future