@aral This entryism article about Microsoft Evangelists killing competing events is interesting and moderately relevant: http://techrights.org/2019/01/10/the-linux-foundation-sellout/
I remember when Microsoft tried this BS at LinuxFest Northwest (taking over 1/3rd of the conference booth space). Glad the organizers banned them the following year! That stuff is core rot, which will rapidly kill a community.