How long will it take before the dotLRN kernel and OpenACS kernel drift apart, if they receive separate Governance?
This is a misunderstanding, there will be no redundant code in the two. The dotlrn "kernel" runs as a set of packages on top of the standard OpenACS kernel.
So no forking's involved. Indeed everyone has as a goal the prevention of forking.
Maybe our terminology needs to evolve :)