At minimum, it is not installed by default, so it is already a negative to just using xargs. That it then puts that barrier in my way makes it an easy tool to skip.
The CITATION.cff format[0] is a newish format to solve the machine identification of citable works, but I suspect it is too new to see widespread adoption. It is going to take some backbreaking regexes to extract "How to Cite" sections embedded in READMEs and buried in the source.
Okay, I accept your argument about Free Software. However, I find it interesting that it's a GNU project... they are generally the most hardline Free Software people.
I also do not care for the citation requirement. I utilize tons of tools in my work which go unstated. I do not feel the need to cite Linux, DNS, htop, Make, Diet Coke, my Kinesis keyboard, etc. Sadly, reliable plumbing gets no respect. Especially for a tool which is more or less interchangeable with some shell scripting. Unless I am trying to shore up the references list, I am going to cite directly relevant work.
At some point, you no longer need to note that your work was powered by electricity.
