Is this relevant outside free software?

big projects are big projects
QA that isn't holistic is (sometimes) as bad as non-existent QA
- overstaffing (relative to free software) leads to division, lack of big-picture
automation != QA
- most valuable feedback is real use- quality comes from subjective qualities that can't be automated
- bugmasters engage users, aren't firewalled from customers by PM like traditional QA

Yes!
QA that has blinders on is really bad for developers and managers- can't get the answers they need about doing their jobs easily

big projects are big projects