Hi neal63,
I agree with you that most common users of browsers are not interested in what kind of browser they use. Habitual users just want a click a hyperlink and this must function. What is the story behind IE coming to its present position, does not interest most.
How the browser war was won against Netscape.
A more basic thing is that I appreciate it I have the possibility to do with a browser what I like. That is also a reason. Only these kind of programs (this kind of free open code open source software) you can "reverse engineer", build into the browser what you like, develop new things for. I like for instance in Flock that there is a program FF to Flock where you can transfer add-ons for Firefox to Flock. I did it with CookieCuller that is now working in Flock.
I want a browser that I can code in such a way that I can keep out of my browser who and what I want to keep out, cookie, ad, webbug, tunneling, tracking etc. And I like to invite in
my browser what I want: RSS, streaming media, blogging, socializing, StumbleUpon, the scanning I allow (scanner add-ons and plug-ins). If you give all that up, because of functionality and over-bloatedness, that is the freedom of those that do not want to think further. I will feel very sorry if the free open software will disappear, because of fixed code.
greets,
polonus