> We all know it’s extremely, extremely hard to interact with your userbase.

On the contrary, your users will tell you what you need to know, you just have to pay attention.

> I dislike telemetry, but it’s a lie to say it’s optional.

The lie is believing it’s necessary. Software was successful before telemetry was a thing, and tools without telemetry continue to be successful. Plenty of independent developers ship zero telemetry in their products and continue to be successful.