@donnacha of WordSkill I don't see it that way. What would be the purpose of forming a non-profit organization just for the purpose of pissing people off? There is some merit to ensuring that a multi-city, multi-date, multi-organizer type of event like a WordCamp has some uniformity. The actual burden is how the rules restrict the organizer's freedom to stage the event as best works for them. For example, who you can have as an advertiser. I think the burdens that the rules create, coupled with the lack of underwriting support (e.g. WordPress gets a ton of pub while the organizers take the risk and potential bath), are the greater problems that time and experience will resolve.

And actually, it is open for discussion in a way -- if you don't like the rules, and you cannot become part of the group that influences the direction of the WordPress Foundation, then you put together your own event like WordUp. The only thing you lose is the built-in name recognition of the WordCamp monkier and the centralized website; otherwise, you're still free to run things as you see fit.