I don't think you can compare it to any other commercial product (let alone an operating system), because it's not a commercial product.
The addon scene in wow is similar to the modding scene in many other games, it's compromised and run by enthusiasts willing and wanting to help eachother and share knowledge and neat stuff.
When introducing monetary or otherwise outside influences and factors into this it usually harms the community, which usually reacts against it (see paid mods on steam).
I'm not comparing your actions to that though, I just think it's an interesting example.
If your motivation for developing addons is to get in-game resources I suggest you stop developing addons, it's not going to make you achieve your goals.
If your motivation for developing addons is a desire to learn and to help your fellow community member then you're in a great spot, with lots of other similar minded people willing to help you along the way. If some people express gratitude through in-game gold or other "wordly" things then that's great, but don't think that's going to be the norm.
I cant speak for you, but the response I've gotten from people in regards to
my addon have been nearly exclusively positive, I've had strangers whisper me thanks for what I do, and suggest ways to improve the addon and make it evolve. I haven't gotten any donations or similar, but that's not to be expected, I'm not doing this for gold.
This has gotten very offtopic, if you want to keep your thread clear of discussion not relating to the addon we could make another thread to discuss this.