I wasn't referring to the name GNU/Linux; I was specifically refuting the comment I quoted. The funny thing is that the comment effectively justifies RMS's insistence on using GNU/Linux. Because so many refer to the entire distribution as Linux, a lot of people fail to realize the hugely-important role that GNU software plays in Linux systems.
Linux is still useful without KDE, but the functionality provided by GNU is critical and would require a large effort to replace.
> the functionality provided by GNU is critical and would require a large effort to replace
This isn't really true. You could just grab your userspace from a BSD, or Plan9Port. Clang and LLVM do well enough to replace GCC on most important architectures.
Linux is still useful without KDE, but the functionality provided by GNU is critical and would require a large effort to replace.