Rules around sponsorship and "free" devices

[MakaanPL]

What are the exact criteria of which devices are supported for free and which require sponsorship tokens?
"Open-hardware chargers, products with a good community karma and manufacturers who actively support evcc development are supported without a token." - this is a bit vague and I think needs better explanation, preferably for each manufacturer.

For example, Chinese ETEK offers EKEPC2 controller which is supported for free (over modbus), but their EKEPC3 can be controlled only over OCPP (modbus is for DLB and/or master/slave configurations) and OCPP in general requires a token. Neither EKEPC2 nor 3 can be considered open hardware, but these are viable options for DIY. The manufacturer also offers complete wallboxes based on their controllers.

On the other hand, KEBA P30 x-series requires a token, while at first glance from my perspective they're just as open as most commercial manufacturers can ever be - great documentation, Web GUI for configuration, OCPP support (x-series) and no reliance on manufacturer's online services or mobile apps.

...Speaking of which - EVBOX Livo is supported for free using some clever tricks, while its defunct manufacturer not only requires a mobile app for configuration (which might be abandoned and removed from appstores) but also restricts OCPP support to the closed list of commercial backend providers. That's a stark contrast between these two.

Also if a device doesn't require a token and someone buys it for this reason, is there a promise it won't change?

[kjs-DE]

The criteria for "no token required" aren't really obvious, I agree. However, I meanwhile have 21 installations running and I refuse to install evcc if they don't buy a lifetime token (my labor is free) even if the hardware is "token-free". To me it is unfair to just use something without acknowledgment of the maintainers.
If a system requires a token try it out with the test token and if it works as expected buy a token. To take the no-token for a hardware decision to me is the wrong way to select a system.

[MakaanPL]

I agree. I don't need EVCC yet and didn't test it thoroughly, I am just curious. The exact reason why specific device is or isn't supported for free could also be useful to decide what to consider and what to avoid (regardless of whether the EVSE buyer wants to sponsor EVCC or not).
I have these two listed wallboxes, assembled one myself and then struck a bargain on reportedly not working Keba which also has 100% local setup and management. It wasn't easy to find anything that meets this criterium.

[kjs-DE]

Not all token-free hardware is best in class (my opinion). That is why I wouldn´t use that for a purchase decision. Important is that it is supported by evcc and only if I have to decide between two otherwise identically suited ones I would chose the one which is token-free.