Hi Benjamin,
I'd like to put the problem into the following perspective:
Octave has certain portability needs - it needs to work with stuff
that is platform-dependent. There is a free, GPLed source library that
aims to solve such needs. The library is actively maintained and open
to contributions (I don't actually know if this is true, but I suppose
so).
If the library doesn't work perfectly, we have either the option to
a) use our own approach
b) contribute and improve the library
Of course, and especially because gnulib is also part of GNU, b) is a
much better approach given the general philosophy of Octave and GNU.
So in the long term, I think Octave should go with gnulib. Imagine
Octave in place of gnulib, a) standing for "buy Matlab license" (or,
as is often the case in this country, get a pirated copy). We're all
those who chose b) for Octave. Why not for gnulib?