> In its most literal form I don't know if I would say I disagreed with the core of what Stallman

You qualify this, but that is basically the core of what Stallman supporters are looking at.

Saying something that is literally true, in an industry which is known to be stuffed with some very literal minded people, should not be grounds for anyone resigning. It should be grounds for doing nothing, apologising or clarifying depending on what was said.

It is risky to punish people for what they did not literally say. Particularly if they are the sort of person who is well known for striving to be literally correct.