I see buying a theme more like buying art, but instead of something that sits on your wall, it rearranges your whole house.

I have to respectfully disagree with you here. Let’s discuss.

1) Web designers are artisans, not artists. Web design should solve problems and tell stories, not be something made to hang on museum walls. Usability and Interaction Design are not fine arts, they’re crafts and the products we make are meant to be used, interacted with. That’s like asking a car company not to put their logo on the rear or clothing designers to leave off their tags.

2) Let’s be honest. If there is fine art on the web, it probably isn’t a WordPress theme design. This IS NOT meant as a diss to WP theme designers (a group that I am a proud member of) but rather that, of all the web sites developed, the very concept of a blog template–a style wrapper for the content–is the definition of interaction design, NOT fine art design.

In summary, give designers credit where credit is due. thank you.

I see buying a theme more like buying art, but instead of something that sits on your wall, it rearranges your whole house.

I can understand that point of view, Matt. However, you hardly erase or cover the artist’s name on a painting, right?

Designer credit is crucial. If you do that, I’m game.

Is this the war on sponsored links getting out of hand? It certainly seems that way.

The previous system was that themes were free and designers could garner recognition via that link, precisely as Thord has said above. I’d be inclined to take my chances offering the theme free of charge from my own website, thanks.