Raven Crowking said:
In any event, under the OGL, everyone and anyone can be a publisher, and therefore can take on decision making capabilities. Under the GSL, this isn't true.
You are actually correct to some extent. Because of the GSL, not everyone can publish
D&D 4E products.
But of course, standard copyright law makes such a restriction the default. The GSL just accepts this default and gives an option for anyone to become a publisher of
D&D 4E products as long as they meet certain restrictions (restrictions that include the right of refusal by WOTC).
But this (along with the obvious economic requirements) does not prevent anyone from becoming a publisher of something else, including other RPG systems.
Of course, anyone can publish critiques of
D&D 4E products, critiques which may include perceived rules improvements. Again, copyright law limits the format in which these critiques may be presented.
I, however, urge people upset with companies attempting to make a legal profit through the use of intellectual property to consider alternative means of economic reward for intellectual property. Under such circumstances, laws change, business models change, and what one can and cannot publish changes.