[Osmf-talk] Data Was: Re: Tiles

[steveaOSM]

I ponder the "80/20 stats, as stated" and think to myself "that's a fair return."  Those "users" (80%) greatly benefit, yes, though so does OSM as the shining beacon of "taking only 20%" to do so (provide said tiles).  There are a great many ways I (and I believe others) look at that and say "winning."  Those 80% make OSM a resounding success, even prove that we are one.  As "they" win, so does our project.  This is a fully operating feedback loop.

Serving tiles is not free, to be sure.  It is something OSM has invested in and continues to do so (in a variety of technical flavors, and that's good that we do so).  Though as we discuss this (and perhaps think about it on a number of levels), that investment also allows those of use who "use" the other 20% to make the best damn map data on the planet.  Well, either arguably so, or "we're in the running to continue to do so."  Rather well, for nearly two decades.  We shouldn't rest on our laurels, but neither should we diminish the luster we continue to develop as we buff to an incredible shine our data.  There are balances to be struck here, we're not doing terribly.  Can/should we improve, especially as we discuss the short- and medium-term horizons and goals?  Of course.

Those 80% are, to some degree and certainly in a manner of looking at them, heroes of OSM, making our map data useful, interesting map products.  It is what we do and I certainly we don't stop or radically change that.  We might tweak how, we should further discuss how, but people using our data is the sincerest form of flattery.