I'm not familiar with the particular project/maps/geodata in question, but a blanket statement that claiming copyright on a map is "absurdity" is itself wrong.
-Dan
If I'm not mistaken, the thread is not about the copyrightability of maps themselves, but the copyrightability of location data pertaining to digital maps, i.e. the very "non-pictoral fact compilations" mentioned in the statement you provided.
Cary Bass Volunteer Coordinator, Wikimedia Foundation
It may have started off that way, but my impression was it quickly became "All maps are free". That may have been a misinterpretation of GerardM's post.
My broader point is that the situation is not entirely black and white. Blanket statements that "all X can never be done" are a bit dangerous to make.
-Dan