i don't agree with or support any of this prosecution, i hope you realize (or any prosecution in the current non-private legal system, for that matter...)
Discussion
That's fine and good to hear.
What do you think they were falsely accused of, then. If it wasn't for writing code?
all accusations are "false" because the legal system is involuntary.
but to answer your question: were they not also running and providing a service, beyond merely authoring code?
Is running and providing a service to others illegal?
by "illegal", do you mean the State will put you in jail for it? definitionally, yes, in this case.
but now we're allowing that they didn't "just write code", I notice. which was my original point.
Why are you trying to distinguish that point? Samourai Wallet did a lot more than just write code, they hosted a node, they hosted a coordinator, they hosted a blockchain analysis platform, they published several research articles, they published several instructional videos, they gave presentations at conferences, they donated $50k to Tor, they were the executive producer of the 3D printed gun documentary Death Athletic, and they ran a social media account. They did quite a lot.
The only think they are going to prison for however, is because they knew a criminal /could/ use their code. That's it. They are going to prison because of that code. So what is this point you're grasping at straws to make?