I'm pretty sure you're wrong. Sometimes an argument is stronger motivation than money. Also sometimes better than money: knowledge, friendship, one-upping random comments, passion, aspiration, etc. Linus wrote Linux basically for reasons you say wouldn't motivate anyone to write code.
Look. I wasn't making a universal statement. My reply was specifically aiming your GP, whose smartass statement appealing to authority added nothing to the discussion. His statement embodies exactly what he is saying, "talk is cheap." And he wanted me to put in substantial effort for his one-liner? I wanted him to put some skin of his own in the game. Put up the money to make a point that his statement is not just cheap talk.
