Hi all.
if, and I think it is, the bottom line is a simple binary outcome: project dies or project lives, then almost any kind of donation solicitation is justified. I dont care if it "cheapens" the experience or it would offend users, or will make them leave - so freaking what? What good are 1,000,000 users who do not appreciate the labors of others and simply parasitically consume? Wouldn't rather 1,000 donating users be more important and viable to the project? I think it is perfectly OK to have a permanent banner in the OS soliciting a donation which gets removed by paying - if it offends someone and makes them leave - so be it as I'd rather take this project going further with fewer users than dying with million users.
Also, I think EVERY update and initial boot MUST present a solicitation banner: if it results of ANY number additional donations, then it's already justified, and I'm sure it will. Not all users visit forums but ALL MUST BE NOTIFIED and informed that the project needs help.
In my opinion, the project should not be afraid to lose some users in exchange for sustainability