If the donation after the use of OSS does not seem to convince many, why not go upstream? Before the creation of software?

Perhaps someone has already thought, but I presented this idea here (in French): http://www.maemofr.org/node/1032

That it's, broadly, the idea:

When a user searches for specific software and it doesn't exist for Maemo, he makes the request in a section dedicated in a website and make a donation for make it. All users who are interested could also make a donation.
When a developer thinks that the sum of money corresponds to the requested work, he developed the software.
If the software matches the demand, it's good and FOSS*, he pocketed the money.

So a FOSS is created, not necessarily by a supporter of the FOSS, and the developer is paid for his work.

And users could request:
- A new free software.
- The port of a FOSS from PC to Maemo.
- Adding functionality to a FOSS.
- Revival a FOSS abandoned.

As in this case, the user makes a request: it will have no problem to make a donation.

*FOSS= Free and Open source Software