Would love to hear what w.org does with the amount of registered users on a site that is submitted with every update check. And: if it's not used why is this number part of an update request?

Plugin data are submitted with their descriptions included, regardless if a plugin is self written or not. But an update check could simply transfer a hash of all these data of a plugin: easier to compare and it would be a huge reduction of data submission and therefore almost a blessing for w.org's old systems. But this won't happen, Otto. The amount of users collected with each update call will remain in core.

Tell us why. And why users may not have a clue about all this. Why isn't there a disclaimer that says: these data of your installation will be submitted to w.org twice a day. If you don't like it don't use WordPress. Or even better: every software has a checkbox and says: we collect data of your sofware usage. If not desired, uncheck. - Why isn't such a thing in WordPress?

I have to laugh. Because after all (and there is more) presenting oneself insulted by conspirations theories is not really a reason for trust. Maybe Otto is not the only one with hands on w.org.