1stly does toady take abuse similar to that described in the links below?
I've heard of nothing like this happening here. And I think it wouldn't be hard to notice it either.
2nd question is, do we as the players have any right to behave like this?
Absolutely not. The way I see it, is that if something will perform to the standards of which it was set out to achieve then there is no additional need for patching.
For example, the current version of Dwarf Fortress - to me - is release worthy software. It does what it say it does, and it's tendancy to crash is minimal. There may be a few minor bugs, but they don't stop you from playing it.
So as far as the topic is concerned, if Toady abandoned the project right now, (See what I did there?) then people in 10 years time will still be enjoying it because it
works, not because of the number of features implemented.
(Not sure any of that makes sense, but oh well.)
And, finally...
3. Donations, people! They really are the best way of defending the fortress.
Just send Toady all your
Large Serrated Disks Copper Coins!
The learning curve cliff overhang covered in ☼Adamantine barbed wire☼ is a perfect way to sort out those who can't endure to wait.
And what a wonderful defense it is.
I guess you could compare it to keeping Elves out of your trade depot. Beware their cloth!