Finally I'm taking a job at an actual software company. They put out open source, in addition to proprietary software (though they ship all their code). They are small, dynamic and financially successful. Now, in the words of a business development manager (read sales person with a bigger budget and less rules), I can work in a profit centre instead of a cost centre.
But that made me think, in any business, you can see any part as a cost. But then all business costs should be considered investments. Much in the way that Quality is Free.
So I'm happy that at least there won't be people in the business telling me I'm a cost rather than profitable.