Quote:
Originally Posted by Apollia  Sure, perhaps many nice, honest people would actually be happy paying $20 for my software, despite the fact that doing so will leave them less money for food, a place to live, and so forth. |
You are assuming that people would still purchase your software even if that would leave them lacking money for food or a place to live. Highly unlikely. If you have faith in your customers' intelligence, give them the benefit of assuming they only purchase it if they can truly afford it.
Also you are assuming that buying your software costs them money. What if it makes them money? And what if they decide not to get your software because it's free and thus probably not as good as the software the next guy is selling for $20? Then you just failed to give value because you made your software free.
Fundamentally, you are assuming too much about your customer. This is where I see your error in logic. Price your software reasonably, market it honestly and trust that your customers are smart enough to make their own decisions based on what value they get for the money. Free is often a turn-off.