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There have been tons of alternatives and they all sucked in different ways - either they were bloated (no, a news reader does not need "far more features") or they weren't free.

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If a product sucks only because it isn’t free, then the product itself is literally worthless. How do people expect someone to provide them something worthwhile for free.

Because of the existence of really incredible FOSS? Lots of incredibly useful software from Linux to web browsers and more are free.

Linux is good primarily because of enterprise support which brings in millions in funding. Enterprises are willing to pay for it.

If I had to pay for every worthy free product I use every day...

That's the thing. I think people forget just how much FOSS software, tools, assets and knowledge is out there that we all benefit from enormously every single day. Even if you're not a dev, most of the websites we visit, the apps we use, the technology underpinning our phones and computers relies in part or in whole on Free and Open Source Software.

I take it for granted but it's important to remember what an amazing thing that is.

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