First, let me point out that "hopelessly ignorant" seems pejorative, and since I'm in the category I was describing for most of the technologies of which I'm a user, I'd prefer "rationally ignorant". It's not a good use of my time to learn everything about the inner workings of a tool I'm using, if I'm not already interested, and most non-programmers are not interested. There are, as you note, exceptions, such as your dentist.
I don't even disagree with the bulk of your post, nor am I interested in discouraging use of the GPL (at least, before free software is the default, whereupon I'll encourage people to use licenses with fewer restrictions, or public domain, as I do, licenses and contracts permitting).
I also prefer for the source code to be available, but I don't think it's properly a legal matter to make sure that it is. I have a lot of sympathy for the view that the GPL's source code requirements are necessary to make enforcement of the other terms practical, thus aiding the copyleft, however, which is a good reason for me not to complain about GPL software or licensing, and I don't.
I do, though, think that it's somewhat beside the point to talk of the needs of the end user regarding the license provisions about source code, which was my original reason for replying. As a practical matter, few end users ever care about the source code, and few end users pay any attention to the licenses of software they use anyway, and that last is a behavior I'd like to encourage. If enough people ignore bad laws, they cease to be effective.
I don't even disagree with the bulk of your post, nor am I interested in discouraging use of the GPL (at least, before free software is the default, whereupon I'll encourage people to use licenses with fewer restrictions, or public domain, as I do, licenses and contracts permitting).
I also prefer for the source code to be available, but I don't think it's properly a legal matter to make sure that it is. I have a lot of sympathy for the view that the GPL's source code requirements are necessary to make enforcement of the other terms practical, thus aiding the copyleft, however, which is a good reason for me not to complain about GPL software or licensing, and I don't.
I do, though, think that it's somewhat beside the point to talk of the needs of the end user regarding the license provisions about source code, which was my original reason for replying. As a practical matter, few end users ever care about the source code, and few end users pay any attention to the licenses of software they use anyway, and that last is a behavior I'd like to encourage. If enough people ignore bad laws, they cease to be effective.