GPL code does not exist in a vacuum. To be maximally useful, GPL code must coexist with source code subject to different legal, regulatory, and licensing regimes. GPL use is only “not restricted” if you completely ignore that compliance with GPL can unavoidably result in civil and criminal liability. Sure, those potential users are not required to avoid civil and criminal liability but that is not a serious argument.
Permissive licenses generally allow source code to coexist within almost any legal scenario into which source code may be placed. This is why I only use permissive licenses both for my own open source and for the open source I use.
I don't think you understand the difference between use and distribution, between running code and copying code.
All source code is automatically copyrighted and restricted (at least in the US) and you must follow copyright laws and license agreements for all source code that you copy and distribute. GPL licensed code is not special in this regard. How you use GPL software has zero restrictions.
I understand just fine. Placing any obligations on distribution, either mandating or prohibiting, is a de facto restriction on use in many contexts. There is a lot of source code that you might want to remix with GPL code that the user has no control over the legality of its distribution. That situation comes up often enough, sometimes in unplanned or unexpected ways, to strongly incentivize the blanket bans on GPL source code you commonly see.
No one has to like it but that is the reality. Pretending these aren’t real and valid concerns, often by people who have no power to change these things even if they want to, does a disservice to the health of the open source ecosystem.
It is why I stopped releasing GPL code and went purely permissive. I’ve seen the issues it causes people who just want to use the code many times. (Ironically, even for me with my own GPL code but at least I can relicense.)
I'm trying to understand you here, but I'm failing. I might need concrete examples of "use" and "distribution" being the same thing if you want to help me out.
Permissive licenses generally allow source code to coexist within almost any legal scenario into which source code may be placed. This is why I only use permissive licenses both for my own open source and for the open source I use.