all this hardware seeking is exactly why i think NOKIA is Maemo's only chance
traditional GNU/Linux distros don't have that problem as they are running on a standard PC, as they are sold by 100s of thousands every day.
even a small project like Trinity Desktop Environment (the continuation of KDE 3.5.10 since KDE upgraded to KDE 4) can survive, only with one dedicated coordinator, a bunch of ppl helping directly and the open source community contributing... they know for 100% sure TDE will run on a standard PC, even with proprietary video card, as long as they remain in line with the x86 / x86_64 architecture.
this simply does not exist for mobiles or Internet Tablets, alas.
thus the dependance upon a manufacturer, in Maemo's case NOKIA.
for the better or the worse