.... no one is in it for "the good of IRC" they are in it for "the good of MyIRCNet"
Some may have been but I doubt seriously that all were. Alot came out of sharing knowledge and possible solutions. It's irrelevant to compare this to previous efforts. I wonder how many networks are loooking at SecureServ and either introducing it or pondering on the same.
Server admins that are fairdinkum about security will use a tool such as SecureServ to help control activity like this. Those that are more interested in batting their bishops over their /lusers count are living in a world of make-believe. If having 10's of 1000's of warbots is preferable to getting in there and helping other networks with defeating them, and of course benefiting from the participation.
Think about it for a minute... Networks such as mine which have the benefit of being run by the national telephone carrier which is majority government owned could withstand attacks like this more than most yet we are probably also well equipped to deal with it because of three things:
1. Small /lusers count.
2. Large bandwidth.
3. Professional attitude and aptitude towards invasions.
Contrary to your beliefs one's approach to dealing with attacks has no bearing at all on network size, but rather one's desire to make sure that while the problem is not going to go away, it CAN definitely be controlled if people are prepared to use some nous, share experience and co-operate. Painting a black picture of the efforts made to combat what could have developed into something uncontrollable is just ignorance and stupidity. I, for one, have had a few sleepless nights in the past because of various warbot invasions. It's great for stimulating the mind but if not controlled, well many people know the score here.
In reality who gives a stuff about the fizzer logo mentioned earlier? It might stand out and say "Notice me!", I don't know, I can't say I remember seeing it myself. Perhaps I visited that IRC Unity website for the right reasons.
Even if the site only ever serves to combat this one problem (Fizzer) then it was worth all the effort put in by many people in both a pro-active sense (SecureServ) and a reactive sense, those who experimented for hours to discover the bot's vulnerabilities.
To laugh at it all, whilst it is a man's right, doesn't display alot in the area of intelligence.
