I suppose the webmaster has no bills to pay either. I suppose that if you watch tv it is free(You only pay with your time watching commercials). I suppose you only pay 30% income tax (no everything you buy is taxed and taxed).
Just because the cost of something is absorbed by someone else or hidden doesn’t mean it is free to everyone. It may appear to be free to you. There are always strings attached.
Excellent point.
Linux is supported in the same way this web site is supported. By donations from volunteers.
It may appear to be free to you. There are always strings attached.
Quite true. The strings on Linux go like this:
1. You can USE it all you want. No cost.
2. If you take Linux code and use it to build a new software product, your software product must also be given away without cost.
3. If you don't like that, don't use Linux to build your software product.
That’s the beauty of capitalism, it creates so much wealth that free rides become part of the mix, just to get you on the ride!
“There are always strings attached.”
Lets nip this bud right now
1) When a church runs a community food shelf is that ‘with strings attached’
now that we have that out of the way I will concede with FOSS there are some strings. Namely that if you modify and distribute FOSS software you have to pass along your modifications. Thats it, thats the ‘cost’.