Removing the OP_RETURN limit is not 'maintenance'.
Bitcoin needs to ossify, because you can't trust humans (developers). They will use the excuse of 'maintenance' to implement new changes/features with unknown consequences, on every new update.
Discussion
You're right. I don't like those changes either, but saying developers don't need funding is saying that developers should maintain their software for free. That's not right either.
That's not saying that at all. It's saying don't pay the people that remove the value from the software.
The only maintenance that should exist in Core should be major bugs/security fixes. Nothing else.
What we have right now is a bunch of over-funded and possibly corrupted developers who are pushing UNNECESSARY new features/changes on every new Core update for many years now.
Knots exists because Core kept changing things people didn't agree with. Eventually the same will happen with Knots, and everyone will jump ship again.
This is not a war between Core VS Knots.
It's a war between those who trust humans (developers) and those who don't (the ones who want Bitcoin to ossify).
I want to ossify Bitcoin too but no one will work for free to maintain it. It will become stagnant and become vulnerable given a long enough timeline.
Everyone working on Core who push for new features/changes and are pro removing OP_RETURN limit should be defunded, and only be given money for their individual bug/security fixes contributions if they ever make them.