One of my major role models, though we never met, was the team at the pioneering assistive technology company Syntha-voice, which shipped the first ever Windows screen reader in 1992, without ever asking Microsoft a question. When I heard about this in @JonathanMosen's interview with David Kostyshyn in 1999, it made a lasting impression on me. I think this largely explains my propensity to solve problems using ugly workarounds rather than trying to cooperate with other developers.