Yes, I've read both the full comment thread in the OP and the dear-github letter.
GitHub adding those features would be a huge boon for teams like this. And honestly, it may be that switching to a different system is the best move for this team. If their motivation is "we need features which GitHub has been unwilling or unable to provide", that's a great reason to move.
But, as I quoted, they also say that they want to move to another system because it will put up artificial walls and isolate them from the people that are currently inundating them with issues. I think that's a bad reason to move. Both because I think it will be ineffective, and because I think it represents bad faith towards their users and community.
GitHub adding those features would be a huge boon for teams like this. And honestly, it may be that switching to a different system is the best move for this team. If their motivation is "we need features which GitHub has been unwilling or unable to provide", that's a great reason to move.
But, as I quoted, they also say that they want to move to another system because it will put up artificial walls and isolate them from the people that are currently inundating them with issues. I think that's a bad reason to move. Both because I think it will be ineffective, and because I think it represents bad faith towards their users and community.