Your statement at the end indicates that I have missed a source 
distribution channel.  The discourse concerning the ergonomics of a list 
such as this versus an eyecandy "Ask Ubuntu" (with character count 
limitations on the length of postings) approach is worthwhile, but 
perhaps at a later time or off-list.

You state that there will not be a CentOS 9 and only a CentOS Stream 
perpetual alpha or beta channel.  I thought that IBM RH would not 
directly release buildable production EL source, but would channel it 
under a CentOS moniker.  CentOS Stream is *NOT* production source.  How 
does IAS Springdale, Rocky, Alma, etc., get buildable production source 
for IBM RHEL9?  Does one have to buy the source from IBM RH? Will IBM RH 
or another IBM entity house the production source for the current 
production EL?  What about the defect correction, including security 
defects, as well as minor release, update production source?

On 5/4/21 1:17 PM, Mark Rousell wrote:
> On 04/05/2021 18:01, Yasha Karant wrote:
>> then one is forced to either Rocky or AlmaLinux, assuming either 
>> pushes out an EL 9 clone as soon as CentOS or other IBM RH buildable 
>> source is released.
> 
> Well, we know there's not going to be a CentOS 9. There will obviously 
> be a CentOS Stream 9 but, as you say, that is not a viable replacement 
> for those who want RHEL's stability without paying Red Hat for it.
> 
> The point of Rocky and Alma is to be downstream of RHEL so one assumes 
> that they will do an EL9 clone as soon as they can after it exists.
> 
>> Otherwise, for those who do not have a too heavy investment in 
>> hardware "driver" or specific software/systems application RPMs, there 
>> is Canonical Ubuntu LTS.  Ubuntu lacks anything similar to this list, 
>> as from my direct sign up and inspection of AlmaLinux does that distro 
>> as well -- both have something similar to "Ask Ubuntu" that is much 
>> more cumbersome and much more eyecandy than this straightforward 
>> list.  And, many more "non-systems" comments, much less of an 
>> "engineering" approach than this list.
> 
> The problem is that mail lists are so last century in the eyes of many. 
> Personally I like mail lists but I know I'm in a diminishing minority.
> 
> There's nothing stopping a third party creating a mail list for Ubuntu 
> or Alma but I regret to say that I doubt it would get many takers. Note 
> that Ubuntu has a busy forum here, Ubuntu Forums 
> <https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__ubuntuforums.org_&d=DwIDaQ&c=gRgGjJ3BkIsb5y6s49QqsA&r=gd8BzeSQcySVxr0gDWSEbN-P-pgDXkdyCtaMqdCgPPdW1cyL5RIpaIYrCn8C5x2A&m=cNm8D5711rZexmocIkIvLEdNEIH7Aci1FemMH-YJyso&s=PwNvDvonh_y24ezmbfFuzYK7sKFrMsZFugFhI5I5UwI&e= >, which is what people often desire nowadays. 
> And Alma has its Reddit and a (dreadful in my opinion) Discourse group 
> at AlmaLinux - AlmaLinux Discussion Community 
> <https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__almalinux.discourse.group_&d=DwIDaQ&c=gRgGjJ3BkIsb5y6s49QqsA&r=gd8BzeSQcySVxr0gDWSEbN-P-pgDXkdyCtaMqdCgPPdW1cyL5RIpaIYrCn8C5x2A&m=cNm8D5711rZexmocIkIvLEdNEIH7Aci1FemMH-YJyso&s=jDT9XxaPX2z7hjJkwbBgZ_MVP7exyEeL3Xg36UGRW_w&e= >.
> 
> Some people love Discourse, others detest it. It seems very lightweight 
> to me.
>