There is a discussion ongoing in the gimp Developer mailing list about rumors of the Ubuntu distribution removing GIMP from the base installation in an upcoming release.  The reasoning is that GIMP is a professional application and should only be included as add-on software similar to how Photoshop is not included in Windows (not that any one points out that Photoshop is not owned by Microsoft and money is more likely the reason).  The other reason is that removing GIMP provides needed room for less complex applications.  Removing GIMP sounds reasonable to many people.  To some, like myself, ubuntu misses the point.  For example, one response on the list included the following:

What most linux users really need is something like Picasa or iPhoto — to easily import a bunch of pics, color-correct them and publish online.

Ah yes.  I think the goal of open source software has always been to increase the number of photos placed online of drunken teen parties, worlds dumbest criminals and cats doing silly things.  What Ubuntu users need is to not accept dumbed down products but to strive to increase their ability to deal with complex things.  Not that GIMP is complex.  It is just not Photoshop.  Deal with it.

And Open Source is not American Idol.  It is pbs.  And open source users do not shy away from complex issues.  Ubuntu, however, thinks the masses are incapable of dealing with such things.  They believe this so much they think users incapable of being able to select from multiple entries in a menu for similar applications.  Yes, Ubuntu believes their users to be the cream of society.

Long live Fedora.