I think the main point in this issue is that it should just work. We don’t have to mess with Ubuntu to get Ethernet working, the same should be true for Wireless.
When key drivers, WPA, and other wireless add on bits are available but not installed, enabled, or mentioned during install – that’s not helpful for everyone, and it particularly doesn’t make sense when other less crucial software IS installed and enabled by default.
If someone has made WPA work in Ubuntu, that should get folded into the next update/autoupdate/release. If someone else sees problems and finds a fix, same deal.
That’s SUPPOSED to be what open source is for, right? Not for everyone to keep re-inventing the wheel when there is really, truly, no need for it.