I don't have a budget, and it's not worth enough to fight legal and/or someone with a budget for this. I don't mean to complain about the license — when I write open source code, I use the GPL too. That being said, I maintain a network file daemon for work and would be interested in using this library to simplify the code (assuming it benchmarks and tests OK). That's all.
If you don't distribute said demon, you're ok under the GPL. (You might not be under the AGPL, but this project is GPL).
Either way, write a polite note to the powers that be: "Our stance with respect to GPL software is causing us an estimated $15000/year cost in maintenance and development on project X". (Substitute $15000/year for a reasonable, justifiable estimate).
Your lawyers don't have to justify their GPL stance today. Make them. They'll probably win at the end in this company ... but change can arrive if enough people do this.
