At some point when you are 11 years old, if you didn't think of it already for yourself, it is some parent or teacher's job to tell you to appreciate all the stuff that people have given to the world, which you now get to use. And that's the only time that lecture is appropriate and that's the only person it's appropriate from.
If it's, we'll say within someone's rights to nag, it's exactly equally valid to object to it and to point out what kind of failing it is.
When I produce something that is free, it's free. If I want any more credit than simple copyleft already provides, then I'll charge for it.
Nagging the user is not unlike "you suck it up and tolerate the ads because that's how you pay for it instead of cash."
A directive to cite, or even a request especially when it's a nag in the tool rather than just somewhere in the docs or on the web site, is a string, a payment. It shows that the author does not actually understand the rationale behind free software. They want something back for their effort more than what they already got, which is the huge sea of developed software they get to use with no strings themselves.
Free software is a gift. It's about to be xmas. How many of the gifts you will give this weekend will you pair with a reminder to thank you for that awesome thing you gave them? The various recipients moms have the job to tell them that, not you or me.
