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Agreed; don't pick the free-as-in-beer tool solely because of that. However, some of the free-as-in-beer tools are the best. And those you should donate to (if they accept it). :)

I think paying once for a tool is outstanding and I fully support it. Prices can even be a lot higher, from my point of view.

The trouble is that everyone wants to be a landlord these days by charging rent instead of allowing you to buy a copy of the software.

No, my hourly salary is 1/10 of that. I would still pay for the license for Sciter if I had a use for it right now, but it isn't a trivial cost.