@Tal Galili - Wow I even commented on that article :) Well, fast forward to 2012 and we are still talking about the very issue you brought up. I think abandoned plugins are just a by-product of open source development. Do you have any additional thoughts on the issue?

@Jason Kemp - This already happens. If a plugin is not updated within 2 years, it will be de-listed from normal search results. The only time you'll come across it is if you search for the exact plugin name or come across the exact page for the plugin.