"isn't really directly related to ... or philosophy"
Source:https://www.gnu.org/philosophy/
"Philosophy of the GNU Project"
Note:GNU is a variation of Open Source, you can say.
Ever individual with a mind can define of course there own
way to describe in there own philosophy way of Open Source
if they have the time and bravery. So of course dose not mean
ever body agree with GNU describing what open source is for
everyone.
"isn't really directly related to any economic system"
Source:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Open-source_economics
"Open-source economics is an economic platform"
Note:I did not read more of this article then this
that I quotation because I think it is obis us(+And I am
ignorant and lazy).
"movement ever gained a toehold in the market is capitalism"
Source:My own experiences
Note:NO! One big thing was contributing from own will with money.
Open source was never from what I knew where you need to pay money
to the person to get the source code...most of the open source
project at least.
Q:"What would free software be if no one had a personal computer?"
Source:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_free_and_open-source_software
"produced by computer science academics and corporate researchers working
in collaboration. As such, it was generally distributed under the principles
of openness and co-operation long established in the fields of academia,
and was not seen as a commodity in itself."
Note:From my reading the early days when there were not many
people in computer industry people needed to share openly there source code
ether way. Long before the personal computer became for the masses.
But I can not find that open source were before personal computers as
Source:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_personal_computers
"The IBM 610 was designed between 1948 and 1957"
But!
Source:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_free_and_open-source_software
"1950s ... researchers working in collaboration"
So personal computer where before open source?
Note:I am not looking hard here, just first page that google gives
me, so yeah. You must be right with you question.
So to answer this question of yours:
What would free software be if no one had a personal computer?
I will say it would be MINIX(?).
Note:Do you not mean more instead of personal computer the internet?
I think it was more important...for open source development.
Last Source Note:I think that www.gnu.org is a strong source and the same for wikipedia.
Last Note:"I'd avoid the topic entirely" yes, I do agree with you and it is my fault for this stupid topic. I am sorry to bring this topic on the user of world2ch. And will not longer do so. I feel bad and know not that I did bad.
-OP