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On the Epic store? Too expensive.

Why? Is more than one store client a bridge too far?

Would Steam have been preferred?

Personally, supporting Epic's anti-customer activities by purchasing from their store is the bridge too far for me.

Buying exclusivity over finished games, the lack of common customer-friendly features in their store (like reviews), and their past interactions with indy developers (not allowing some non-exclusive new releases on EGS) have all joined into one intolerably heavy load of straw.

I have a different view. I'm not on an epic supported platform, so I don't and can't use their launcher. I wouldn't buy anything directly from them, but I will log in and claim my free copies, in hopes that it cost them money in licensing fees.

I don't know if they make bulk licensing deals, or pay a reduced price per copy claimed, but I hope it's the latter and I'm just a drain on their budgets.

Software companies often struggle to acquire customers, and they are often presented with a decision: Make the product better, or coerce / force / bribe users to accept your product as it exists.

Everyone probably does a bit of both, but Epic is the perfect example of button-mashing option 2.

Are developers of the freebie games complaining?

Who is harmed by another competitor with lower royalties and lower prices?

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