it would honestly be so awesome if linux kernel dev was someday a functional free software project instead of a horrible black hole of human suffering

I didn't read the whole of Torvalds' post as I zoned out from the technical details, but the apology basically oozes Finnishness at every point. Lack of emotional intelligence or plain old disagreeableness is not by any means a national characteristic, but a brand of earnestness and directness is.