Can you really blame a project for being ahead of the curve on security? Is that really your point?
I use Linux as a VM platform but I've donated to OpenBSD because I've always rooted for them. I'm just disappointed they haven't done much in this area.
That said, there is the upcoming: http://undeadly.org/cgi?action=article&sid=20150831183826
The world is more than Silicon Valley startups.
While everyone is still using OpenSSL, they made LibreSSL that is slowly taking over the world. For examle, Apple imported the project into their version of OpenSSH.
Yes, I could imagine it. Your revolutionary idea can be implemented with slow, steady technology. I hear tell that a couple of guys even used an old language like Lisp to implement a startup. Might even be cool to implement boring techniques for storing passwords.
Confusing revolutionary business objectives with revolutionary technology is probably a red flag.
Just to specify this, reddit for example started out in Lisp and moved to Python, eventually: http://www.redditblog.com/2005/12/on-lisp.html
"Slow" and "internet" don't go well together in a sentence. Can you imagine taking this "slow" approach as a startup? You'd be left behind in a jiffy! I guess a not-for-profit mentality shields you from obsolescence. That and the NSA has saved OpenBSD big time.
More power to them!