Volunteers by definition do not (or at least should not) expect anything in return for their time. If you want respect as a so-called volunteer, you're not a volunteer.
I've seen both good and bad package maintainers, too.
> Volunteers by definition do not (or at least should not) expect anything in return for their time
That isn't really true. For starters, paid volunteers are actually a thing that happens from time to time. Secondly; there would be no volunteers if they didn't get something for their time. It is just generally that something isn't money. Volunteers aren't expected to be selfless.
If you’re getting paid you’re by definition not a volunteer. You may be getting some perks like volunteering at a convention giving you an entry pass for that convention, but as soon as you’re getting some other gains, be it monetary or not, you’re no longer a volunteer.
each year, my employer allows me to take a (paid) day off to do volunteering projects, e.g. going to soup kitchens. I get paid for that day regularly by my employer. The soup kitchen doesn't have to pay a dime.
> If you’re getting paid you’re by definition not a volunteer.
You are technically incorrect. The US army, for example, is manned more or less entirely with paid volunteers.
And while many volunteers may not get formal compensation, they have to expect to get something out of the experience. Otherwise they would not do it. The subset of volunteers who are in it purely for a biblically pure sense of charity is tiny. And there is no expectation that Debian developers are motivated by some cultish wish to do good for the sake of free software. They're allowed to be motivated by whatever motivates them to do good with free software. Even if it is money.
Volunteers by definition do not (or at least should not) expect anything in return for their time. If you want respect as a so-called volunteer, you're not a volunteer.
I've seen both good and bad package maintainers, too.