I see this as an essentially "internet" reaction. It is cowardly in the extreme. I doubt any of these people would say to Stallmans face the things their letter implies. Furthermore twitter etc act as an amplifier for whatever words you throw in it, and as the news networks and talk show hosts figured out years ago, outrage sells. There's also white-knighting, probably a consequence of social awkwardness and discomfort, because nerds grow up but they may not grow out of it.

Sad and cowardly, hardly surprising.