Yea I think there is a misunderstanding. My first question was not rhetorical. I was just expressing that my personal experience matches the one described above.
With that both statements could have some truth: 5/6 MRs could be merged and it could still be that they dislike external contributions.
I will not file a complaint or anything like that. It was not that I was insulted nor assaulted just they gave me the vibe that external contribution was not very welcome. While frustrating that is ok, even if it could've been better communicated. Also it was like 4 years ago.
Great attitude! I was the issue all along. Who would've thought.
Strange that I didn't have that problem almost anywhere else where I contributed.
Edit: you do see how your comment matches my experience that it feels more like a closed club of elites right?