Torvalds could have been such an asshole for Linux, but he is adamant to not look outside of the kernel. As such, Poettering, Sievers, and the rest are doing an envelopment and containment move by basically building a second kernel in userspace. They also seem to have managed to get a friendly ear on the inside in the form of GregKH. A person that Torvalds seems to place a bit too much trust in these days.