Linus Torvalds wrote git in two weeks. In a CAVE. With SPARE PARTS.

Because it’s 2003

You are correct. It IS sympathy. Sympathy acknowledges the situation. Empathy acknowledges their feelings, more like “I can imagine how this situation makes you feel.”

For the record I fully support vegans. I eat meat, but I never waste meat. Which is the best I can do.

I think the fact that the Wikipedia article you linked describes this guy as one of the biggest assholes of all time says a lot