While, for the average user, it's a very good idea to allow WordPress auto-updates let's not forget that WordPress is an open source system that is specifically licensed to encourage innovation. It's customisable out of the box but there's no such thing as "one-size-fits-all" with websites. What suits one site's content may be completely wrong for another site so forking WordPress makes sense for those users.

Tens of thousands of WordPress users are happy to install it and make their sites and content needs fit into what WordPress provides. Others take WP as a starting point then hack the core to give them what they need. Both are equally valid and neither should be subjected to ridicule for their choices.