I think systemd is a useful evolution in the problem of "Linux plumbing"

Even if it ends up being replaced by something else, for better or worse Lennart sat down and tried something. That's better than 99% of the systemd haters who sit and postulate on reddit and phoronix

Conversely replacing GPL tools with more permissively licensed ones just seems like the "time is a flat circle" idiom

We'll use our GPL'd systems to build BSD/MIT/Apache licensed ones where benevolent mega corporations "allow" our contributions. Until they don't

And then we'll begin the cycle all over again trying to liberate ourselves from corporate controlled software