Does this mean the Linux client will stop sucking?

Maybe. That would be one of the hopes. We will have to see what developers make of the code released. I'm sure we will hear some commentary soon.

Keep the example of Mozilla in mind. The initial code released was a mess, and it took a very long time for the mass of developers who dived into it to produce something of quality. And even then, more time crept by before Firefox came around.

The situation of Second Life will likely be completely different, but it's impossible to predict without actually having a clue about the code in question, which I don't.

RE: Linden Labs Open Sources Second Life Client