You're right, I have not contributed to the degree that _Why did. I think you misunderstand my point, though. When you do contribute to a high degree, and people begin to use and depend on your work, then it's not especially cool to just take it all away in a huff. _Why didn't just remove his web pages; he took a lot of his code with him. People managed to put up mirrors and otherwise reproduce what he took.

_Why is indeed a win for Ruby. I'm sorry he's gone, and I wish he had not. I also wish he'd chosen not to leave in the manner that he did -- whether you call that a "hissy fit" or just an abrupt exit.