The FUSE maintainer (and this article) implies that kernel driver signing certificates are so difficult to get that forking is not realistic, even without considering the technical issues.
I don't know if that is true, but if it is, then that is a certainly due to Apple policies.
It's also interesting to contrast with Linux FUSE, which to my knowledge has never been associated with any maintainer drama.
Doesn't matter. Apple is a gatekeeper, and that was exactly my point. They cultivate such kind of approach, and maintainer becoming a gatekeeper simply mirrors their own attitude.
I don't know if that is true, but if it is, then that is a certainly due to Apple policies.
It's also interesting to contrast with Linux FUSE, which to my knowledge has never been associated with any maintainer drama.