This is just belligerence and hostility cloaked in concern. This isn't a for-peofit enterprise that will regress back to Internet Explorer toolbar hell if we don't keep reminding them that we don't like it. This is a community-led effort, which you trust enough to run on your desktop, but apparently don't trust enough to not go wild with donation banners. What level of trust is that? Trust only as long as it benefits you?

Trust and user experience are two different things.

I would trust them not to spy on me and not to gather data for behavioural advertising whether they had no banner, a banner, or an autoplaying video every time you start Docs. I just wouldn't be equally happy with the product in each of those cases.

What bothers me is not the banner itself but their reaction to it.

Someone who handled this better recently: Mozilla got user feedback on their AI integration, and added an off switch.