> Actual product support is killed, and instead user supported forums are promoted. Useful idiots do the work unpaid for a mere digital badge.

Wow, that is a misanthropic take if I have ever seen one. People helping out other people for free are called "useful idiots".

While it might be an ethically bad move of the company, it certainly should not be used to disparage helpers. Otherwise, would you classify all unpaid FOSS work the work of "useful idiots"?