It seems to me (please correct me if I'm wrong) that Brion has failed to provide adequate explanation with regards to the perceived problems with the feature. It seems that several times, Magnus Manske (the author of the feature) has posted to wikitech-l asking why the feature isn't being enabled; Brion would reply stating a few "problems" which Magnus quite convincingly demonstrates are either fixed by now, or have never actually been a problem. Brion then never replies to those refutations again and just leaves everyone puzzled.
but it's understandably frustrating to those of us who
REALLY REALLY
WANT IT IN.
The situation as I have outlined it above is not only frustrating, but actually somewhat angering. If he can't turn the feature on or explain what's wrong with it, then maybe he shouldn't be "in charge" or at least not the only one.
Timwi
This is the kind of politics that made me quit the development team a couple of years ago, and also what led me to being mostly inactive even after joining _three_ years ago. Technical leadership is difficult, and developers are no better than average (merely because they are computer "scientists") than any other group, at cooperating.
I hope one person will be BOLD, knowing that if a problem actually DOES crop up, the feature can simply be shut off.
Ed Poo Developer Emeritus