Most software is made entirely free with no source of income. The job market for software is terrible, and those people work entirely seperate jobs from it. Many program on a very minimum life expenditure.
No. Most software that is actually used, is not made 'for free'.
Prove me wrong is bad argumentation.
>I know people in other countries don’t make the same salaries but they are “mostly” doing pretty well for their region.
The burden of proof is on the person making the claim. Do you have any data to backup your claim?
here's some job postings for software engineer in Bordeaux, France: https://www.indeed.fr/Bordeaux-(33)-Emplois-Ingenieur-Inform...
It's around three times less.