Also the person in question is also a well-received volunteer, which is why this is getting traction to begin with, which is why Rich Hickey would even take the time to tell someone that they aren't worth the time of the very response they're reading.
I think you are misrepresenting what Rich wrote. He said you are not "entitled" to a response. That is not an evaluation of someone's worth, but a statement about what they are owed, or not owed.