The Free Beer Economy (Linux Journal)

People who pay money for software, instead of availing themselves of free software, are not really doing it because they want SOFTWARE, they're doing it because they want to solve a problem, or take advantage of an opportunity to do something. They think that buying the software will accomplish this. However, as most IT professionals know, buying the software doesn't mean you'll end up using it properly or efficiently, or that your particular problem has now been solved. You have to take the time to learn it, or pay more money, after you've bought the software, for someone to teach you how to use it or implement it properly. But most people think that buying the software is all they need to do, or that they're done spending money.

Advocates for free software, either as in beer or as in speech, need to acknowledge that most people will still need to spend money to solve their problem, or gain the opportunity they seek, even if the money they spend is not for the SOFTWARE. Their solution or opportunity will still cost them money, but they may end up spending less of it, or spend it more efficiently. After all, nothing is really free.

> the world's best-selling noun

I'll have a large free please, with onion but no cheese.