Quoting Richard Stallman
"In 1981, using a computer in freedom was impossible, all operating systems
were proprietary".
In this sentence RMS says 2 things:
1. Many options don't necessarily mean more freedom, if none of them is free;
2. The lack of options equals a lack of freedom, if no free option exists you
have no freedom.
Of course having many kernels is not giving freedom, but the fact that Debian
has been bringing free software to many different architectures and using
different kernels IS providing freedom to people who, other way, wouldn't
have it. Just like it was impossible to use a computer in freedom, it was so
in smartphones (Replicant and to some extent CM have been changing that),
tablets (Debian more than anyone has changed that), and maybe some other
devices. Also, thanks to the work of Debian, we now have the option of using
systems like Trisquel and Tails that provide special "freedoms" to people
who need them.
All of this to say, Debian should not be looked at as a "bad son who got out
of house alone against orders", but really the son who goes out to live life
in his own way while trying to stay true to the lessons he learned from his
parents.
Debian brings freedom to many devices and so stays true to the origina goal
of GNU project. Also it frees people who don't want/need/can use linux, to
still use free software operating system.
Now, of course, I maintain that looking at the distro itself, IT IS FREE. You
download CD1, install it, search for non-free software (apps, drivers, blobs,
whatever) and you find none. So, the distro is free.
