Hmmm ... what did I misunderstand here?
1. What my "attempt to "help"" has to do with "copyright protection and licensing"?
The fact: Salix is a very nice, small Linux distribution with good usability, but with looks of yesteryear.
My attempt to help to modernize it, consists of: instead of using the system theme A, icon theme B and cursor theme C, you should consider using the system theme X, icon theme Y and cursor theme Z.
Combine the three elements properly together (with my help) and change a couple of presets properly (with my help) would result in the more modern look.
It's not me forcing you to change the appearance, nor anything else for that matter, and there is nothing I could lose or gain with it.
At the end, Salix will look more modern or it'll stay the same. End of the story (or "attempt"?).
Again: What exactly my "attempt to "help"" has to do with "copyright protection and licensing" model(s)??
2. Our disagreement on the "seriousness of copyright protection and licensing" has exactly nothing to with my "attempt to "help"".
There is no copyright on the ideas.
Copying somebodies work is "plagiarism" and is not allowed; copying somebodies style is a "bad artist" (lack of originality), but not prohibited.
All that starts being a 'discussion topic' only in the case you would use my own work.
If this would ever become the case, then it's not you who should care of copyright infringement - it's me.
If you use my (stolen) works, you can simply say that you have/had my permission - nobody expects you to be an art and/or copyright law expert.
So, what exactly was your concern again?
You just have to learn to differentiate and "no amount of rambling" is necessary to do that.