@Chip Bennett - The vast majority of the user community doesn't even know it happens. But I'm guessing users such as school newspapers, magazines, newspapers, etc. wouldn't be too thrilled with the idea that their CMS would dictate how their editorial content is displayed.

I completely get that it's just one word and it doesn't change anything else. But I think what people have an issue with is the idea of the CMS changing ANY of their editorial content. It's more of a principal thing than anything else.

The fact is plenty of developers are also upset over the change. Developers who care enough about WordPress development to subscribe to and follow the wp-hackers list. The diehards. It is those developers that are also having their concerns brushed aside. Are they a vocal minority? Sure. But brushing their concerns aside and waiting for it to all blow over just alienates them. What happens when you begin alienating the developers that contribute to the project? Eventually they will quit contributing to the project.