With my limited experience in marketing, Wikipedia may have found they get more funds with this approach than by being more gentle. Different approaches tickle different people in different ways. Wikipedia need to find a combination that works to keep things going.

I have donated several times in the past. It seems they are making fewer requests for money--and the campaigns are taking less time. But that's just my observations.

I think this is funding model that works well. No big government, no advertising. Just voluntary contributions.

I used to donate to PBS and the Canadian Red Cross. But I got annoyed when most of my donation goes towards sending me letters to donate more. The causes are still good, but I am too annoyed. The causes still find their donors without me.