Nothing is free. It costs *someone*
I’d rather pay in $$ than pay in personal data.
Discussion
that someone doesn't always have to be you. many have produced amazing work and left it in the public domain for everyone to enjoy for free without any limitations. they are the ones that paid the cost, and to many of them, the cost is worth it.
there are 100% free (as in gratis and as in freedom) tools out there for people to use and enjoy, it's just not the norm and don't ever expect it coming from for-profit companies, those are not known to be altruistic.
This is true. But very few projects of any size survive for long without significant investment from either industry or a community.
I am grateful every day as a dev, I benefit from a lot of other people’s work, and try to sponsor as often as I can afford. Trying to get work to do the same.