Yeah... I think both are applicable, but if you really want something done then you do it yourself or pay someone to help do it, especially for open source. It sounds like have a descent idea of where to start. I'd go find some kernel developers working on the underlying components, and offer to pay them or see if they have recommendations of people to get the work done.
In doing some searches on the subject this [1] came up. So there seems to already be movement on this front, and it's possible my knowledge of the current situation is stale.
There's definitely some level of gamma/color correction funtionality at the DRM level already in the kernel [1]. So my desires may already be largely fulfilled, and maybe userspace just needs to get its act together.
However I think complaining about open source software has its place. Sometimes the developer has never thought of adding the feature that the end user can't get along without.
