and once more the hackers are reduced to serfs, begging the copyright barons for permission to make sensible use of tools they already hold.
Sorry, but that is how it has always worked, for free software too. If you want to use a non-GPL compatible licensed program with a GPLed licensed program, then you have to ask for permission. If you wish to include free documentation in a free software program, same thing. There is no `begging', and never was.
The facts are that you can use, modify, distribute and look at documentation licensed under the GFDL. You don't need to ask for permission to do such things, if you do have to ask for permission to do those things, then it simply isn't free documentation.