My impression of this whole situation with the Knight Foundation is that the WMF's strong tendency toward closed-door and closed-loop processes are hurting WMF more than helping it. If WMF had been transparent with the community about this situation in the first place and a consultation with the community had happened as negotiations were underway with Knight, I am wondering if a mutually agreeable solution could have been created at that time. Now we're in the midst of a lot of skepticism, suspicion, and political difficulties.
Perhaps after the experiences of the past few months WMF governance will re-align itself with the value of openness.
Hope springs eternal,
Pine