Thanks for your question.
Actually, the WP101 Plugin qualifies as “Serviceware,” under point number 6 in the WordPress Plugin Directory Guidelines.
6. “Serviceware” plugins are defined as plugins that merely act as an interface to some external third party service (eg. a video hosting site). Serviceware plugins ARE allowed in the repository, as long as the code in the plugin meets all other conditions. These are allowed even for pay services, as long as the service itself is doing something of substance. Creation of a “service” which does nothing but to provide keys or licenses or anything similar for the plugin, while the plugin does all the actual work, is prohibited. Moving arbitrary code into the service so that it can appear to do some work is also prohibited. This will be handled on a case by case basis and our judgment on any given case is final.
The plugin was created and submitted to the repo by WordPress Lead Developer, Mark Jaquith.
Not all plugins in the repository are free. You’ll find a number of commercial plugins in the directory, including VaultPress, Akismet, and more. These all qualify as serviceware.
Hope this helps address your concerns, but please feel free to contact me at any time with other questions.
