The problem with Google Trends is that it shows what people search for, not what people post and talk about.

Sure. But I was also pointing out the relationship to Systemd. BSD is being talked about because of what's happening to the Linux culture thanks to powerful groups like Red Hat and Ubuntu, and the choices of major desktop environments, and how it affects the software ecosystem. Systemd is the symbol of what some view as corruption. That makes BSD seem like a refuge. But what they don't realize is, one of the founders of FreeBSD is eagerly in favor of all that Systemd and other modern intrusive type of approach, and it might go the same route. Then what OS will they use?

But i have come to understand that he no longer holds commit rights, or at least has the grace to develop his plans via a branch called NextBSD.

This would be akin to Poettering and crew setting up their own distro, perhaps based on Fedora, to test and demo their creation.

Also, Even in its present state Launchd is far from as invasive as Systemd is. And Systemd is still going full scope creep ahead.