It appears that commercialization of an open source project is fraught with real challenges. Some endorse the concept, others tread heavily through a virtual minefield.
If you alienate your base, through whatever means, mines will be activated, and somebody will eventually be hurt. The wounded base will be bitter and look elsewhere.
This is really a shame since the newly dissaffected base should be grateful since they benefited from an open source development. Well, until a "Gottcha" or unexpected mine was tripped. If the management was vigilant , they would sweep for mines, before changing policies.
It is not easy. One apparently successful model, is the BSD Pfsense firewall distribution. Huge following, great community support, great product, yet a number of paid options.
I sincerely hope Piaf can continue in a similiar fashion. The no "Gottcha Model" is certainly a large step in in this direction.