Regarding RMS, at MIT/Harvard he's
quite popular (I witness), at slashdot.org
he is also quite popular. In England he's
very popular too. He might be unpopular
with small (but vociferous) minority
of dotcom nuovo riches, laissez-faire
fanatics and fans of Eric S. Raymond,
but overall he's much more charismatic
than any of his opponents. His writing
is also superb (especially comparing with
Larry Wall, Eric S. Raymond and other
luminaries).

Stallman's sanitary habits are not to everybody's
taste, but a prophet is obliged to keep himself unkempt
and unwashed.

All the best
Misha.