Bug#569785: iceweasel: Please don't use homepage_override / welcome page; user not necessarily admin/developer

[Josh Triplett]

Package: iceweasel
Version: 3.5.6-2
Severity: important

>From the 3.5.6-2 changelog:

  * debian/branding/Makefile.in, debian/branding/firefox-branding.js:
    Use http://mozilla.debian.net pages for homepage_override and welcome.


*Please* don't do this.

I administrate systems for non-technical users.  I try to make these
systems work as transparently as possible, even when I need to upgrade
them.  Firefox upstream noisily reminds the user to update itself and
its addons.  I very much like(d) that Iceweasel does not do this, and
neither do addons installed as Debian packages.  I can update Debian
packages any time a user doesn't have Iceweasel running, and they won't
even notice.

The new homepage_override and welcome page breaks this use case, and
throws the user to an unfamiliar page rather than their usual homepage
and search box.  While I realize that you'd like to get technically
inclined users to contribute, the page you've pointed at seems entirely
unhelpful for users who just want their system to work.

Furthermore, consider that almost any package would like to make the
same call for help, and then consider what would happen if any
significant fraction of the apps on a user's desktop nagged the user
when run after an upgrade.  Not a pleasant thought, and certainly not
usable.

And, even as a technical user, I find the page more annoying than
helpful.  At least the upstream equivalents point the user at useful
addons, new features, and so on.

- Josh Triplett