I don't see why it always has to be the open source model - at the moment
it's important to build trust and confidence but ultimately there might be other models. If e.g. the XC infrastructure/code were bought
out by e.g. apple, for sure future developments would no longer be open source.
(Of course we'd all have to rely on the goodness of apple to preserve the trustless principle but that's a different question.)
And anyway first mover advantage is everything - delayed open source still keeps XC ahead of the pack.
Dude, you think the general public gives 2 shits about if something is open sourced or not? I will use the KFC analogy again, people dont care as long as its yummy... same with cryptos, they wont care as long as it "works" and is as easy as possible with all the features they want. Simple as that.