If you do not provide Realtek the financial incentives (ie, not buying their products) for not maintaining proper Linux drivers (in kernel ones are what I would consider proper) then nobody in the world has a financial incentive to make them work for you. If you are buying realtek products, having them not work, and not demanding a refund for the lack of functionality, then nothing changes.

It is disingenuous to blame kernel developers for not fixing a hardware vendors shitty driver when said hardware vendor is not paying them squat.

Normally I would agree with you but zanny's reply was perfectly legitimate for your above question. I don't see any attitude from his/her side.