Nah, I think he's right, it's signaling.

I think Linus and Stallman don't have disdain for "civilians". I think Linus in particular has deep disdain for people who pretend to be competent and then are not up to scrutiny; but he doesn't have those blowouts with dumbasses that he doesn't work with.

On the other hand, someone who strikes me has having universal disdain is Carmack.