The question is, is it actually better for it? I have a bit of software I've created. It's a reimplementation of a commerical product. It scratches my itch. It would also scratch the itch for most of that company's paying users. Do I a) Keep it to myself and a couple of close friends b) sell it for slightly cheaper c) sell it for slightly more d) give it away for free. There is a whole company out there with people that depend on this app to pay their bills. Giving it away for free puts that whole company out of business! Everyone working there is would then be out of a job. Sharing this thing with the world for free might be generous of me, but who am I to fuck over the people at that company. There's probably a person who's not a software developer who's struggling to pay the bills as is. Giving my software away for free puts her out of a job.