Coming from the king of zero-value arguments. Continue, DUmmie GE.
and your (or Stallman's who you are defending) stated goal of making all software free will certainly destroy them, and prevent anyone else in that industry from ever achieving it again
Um, he didn't state such a goal. And I don't think he's defending RMS. Again, throwing dirt and hoping it will stick.
Take an example, like Apache web server software. Where are the profits for those that develop and distribute the software? Answer: there are none. As in zero (0).
It's called freeware. The developers released it for free. That was his choice. Could they have sold it and made the source available under the terms of one of the many recognized open-source licenses? Absolutely.
But releasing Apache was their choice. That choice is what OSS strives for. The goal is to coexist along with proprietary software, giving rise to innovation and still giving the consumer more options in the market.
Yet this is the model you propose for the entire industry?
And how many times have you been told that innovation is the lifeblood of the tech industry, and coexistance is the only way the industry can continue to stay afloat at its current rate into the long-term.
Why should I, when you can't grasp the simple concept of ANYTHING > zero.
You fail to realize that with Windows, zero is what you get. If you claim that he doesn't know anything is greater than zero, you're sadly mistaken. I use both Windows (including OSS) and Linux. And I can say I've gotten more from Linux and OSS software on Windows than by Windows alone.
Man doesn't live on Microsoft Windows alone...
OSS gets more from Windows. It's been shown in front of your eyes. What will it take for you to realize this?
Why must you continue to lie and distort the obvious facts? I've already given a link direct from the GNU where the stated goal is to quote "make proprietary software obsolete." Yet you deny what is in writing on their own website, and which has already been linked in this discussion. Guys like you are exactly why your "movement" has such a terrible reputation for honesty and integrity, and until you can come to grips with reality that is not about to change.