This is so condescending and rude. If you had hoped to spawn some sort of dialog this way, you completely blew it.

I'm not seeing where they're going to get more ammunition by making Linux better by contributing to it's success and widespread use. I can't help but ask again, why is it disappointing that they contribute? They do a lot of other things which seem disappointing to me (your links), but contributing code doesn't seem like one of them.

Microsoft are well known for dumping technologies and folding up projects. Who knows, perhaps they could just spend a lot of time and money on Linux for a couple of years, getting things somewhat dependent upon them, then dump it? Perhaps they'll find examples of their patents being used?
Or, perhaps, they'll just be using the marketing data gained from Cortana's integration to make more money for Microsoft.
Either way it's not a god thing to hear about MS being involved in anything. It would be far better if it hurried up and died.

How so?

It was a simple observation that your particular set of knowledge, values and experience precludes you from understanding, or even considering, certain other perspectives. It is a part of the human condition, not any kind of personal attack.

Your adversarial reaction only demonstrates that fact - you are "armoured" against certain competing ideas. Sorry if it offended, not intended to.

Dialog? No, what would be the point of that?

You begin from the obviously flawed assumption that the biggest, most longstanding and openly hostile enemy of Linux, is somehow going to "make Linux better by contributing to it". I would call that simply foolish and naive. And, widespread use alone is not the good thing you assume it to be.

Your knowledge does not include any understanding of the principles or recent history of the FREE software movement. You may know a few factoids, but you plainly demonstrate lack of any understanding of it, at all. As a result, your mind is completely closed to any thought that their contributions just might be intended to be harmful instead of helpful to some aspect of the Linux, and greater FREE software ecosystem.

Their corporate policies are already known to be harmful to personal FREEDOMs and I have rejected the presence of M$ in any aspect of my life. Period. Any influence they gain over Linux is overtly harmful and unwelcome, to myself and very many others. But you cannot understand that now... perhaps some day...

I wish you well.

that about sums it up

cyanogen mod has been in the business of making stuff different for some time.

All I can say is I like Cortana better than that stupid Siri. Even with IOS 9.1 it can't give me a good answer. I like ok google but I'm sure it is selling me out too.