Kick the tires only when testing

I have always wondered this? Why free software is seen more problematic than proprietary?

All large companies and governments I have worked require the software source with patent licensing, etc on escrow and this always is easier with free. In smaller companies I have negotiated a pooling where several companies together have an escrow if one is too small to handle it alone. And looking back, proprietary software (and hardware) really seems to disappear at least as often as free.
Another problem is the license changes, in free software at least the current version will stay available so companies can manage it themselves or hire someone else to manage it. In free software field it is rather easy and I have seen that happening even for proprietary software, more than once.

Maybe, if the companies would think software (and other IT resources) they use as any other raw material needed for business, they also should manage it the same way and have a continuance plan when one source dries up? IT is a business function the same way as any other organization in corporate and should be managed the same way.

Click to read the article this is in response to.