Who gets to decide what's "better" in this utopian open source future?
Since no one's going to come around to your house and forceably install a new modified DX9 version of B3d over your original BRL one, you do, and so does everyone else.
Your comparison with ID is completely spurious, BTW, since they give away the engine and source, whereas BRL are being asked to release the source only to paying customers. There are many high quality, modern 3d engines which allow customers access to the source ( sometimes in return for additional fees and sometimes not. )
And your point (i) that everyone likes getting something for nothing applies equally to every "normal" request, which is what you just said this wasn't.