minor nit: i don't think rms is a "Dr.", since he didn't get a Ph.D. (unless he has a secret M.D.)
From wikipedia:
"Stallman then enrolled as a graduate student in physics at MIT, but abandoned his graduate studies while remaining a programmer at the MIT AI Laboratory. Stallman abandoned his pursuit of a doctorate in physics in favor of programming."
I don't think an honorary doctorate entitles one to be referred to as Dr. In fact, most people with doctorates that I know would rather not be referred to as Dr. In the case of this article, it seems like the author is trying to be overly-formal in the manner of a Keith Olbermann rant.
While I know that the regular practice is to refrain from calling recipients of honorary doctorates "doctor", I think that in some cases it's reasonable. Stallman is definitely more deserving of the title than many "real" Dr.s that you'd find.
Maybe universities need a new class of degree called "honorary doctorate and we mean it for this guy".
Other people who have honorary doctorates: Bill Cosby, Bob Hope, and Oprah.
(edit: and Bob Barker, Tim Allen... obviously, RMS has accomplished more than many PhDs, but you shouldn't refer to a holder of an honorary doctorate as "Dr.")
From wikipedia: "Stallman then enrolled as a graduate student in physics at MIT, but abandoned his graduate studies while remaining a programmer at the MIT AI Laboratory. Stallman abandoned his pursuit of a doctorate in physics in favor of programming."
perhaps he has an honorary doctorate?