I see this as two fold. If you hold a high bar with a stick, you might attain your goal of having a high bar—but you'll largely fail to inspire others to keep the bar held high after you leave. If you hold a high bar with carrots (read: empathy, professionalism, understanding), you'll impress your standards (and your values!) on the rest of your organization. Organizations that are led by the latter sorts of leaders last longer and tend to be more successful.

That's not to say that there's no room for being firm—and OSS politics could drive the pope to violence at times—but LT's behavior has crossed the line many times over. I very much look forward to a more approachable kernel leadership approach.