"If a company is going to make a competitively-priced, Linux-based, user-hackable router, your editor feels an obligation to buy it."
Amen, brother, Amen.
Voting with your wallet is a most compelling input to ny manufacturer. I completely agree with this and practice it whenever I can--even if I don't feel the need to hack that particular bit of hardware.
DRM-free media is another primary example.
I also humbly suggest this be done with books that are available online *and* in print (e.g., Rute Linux and the SVN book). I have online and printed copies of these and others.
Bottom line--if you have a choice to support freedom, do so.