I've thought on the funding of software also, and at least for now I've reached the conclusion that the only sustainable way of funding is to use the software. Meaning that businesses should have developers (in-house, or I guess consultants) working directly to develop the software they are using, instead of trying to maintain this model of having independent projects and isolated users who then need somehow to throw money over the chasm between.

Implication being here that pure software product houses are not a healthy model. I understand this might be somewhat radical view, especially on HN where so much revolves around software products.