Quite true. Linux and all modules loaded into it are GPL licensed. The userland and tooling on the other hand can be licensed however. They are free to close source on anything except kernel code.

This is the first step in moving to fully closed source. I guess degooled versions are getting too popular thus a threat to google’s business.

laughs in btrfs and xfs

Have a look at https://european-alternatives.eu/, https://www.privacytools.io/ and https://www.privacyguides.org/en/tools/