[CarolinaGuitarman]

"A monopoly (nor a cartel) is not a free market."

Monopolies only exist in government controlled businesses. Gates does not have a monopoly, nor was he close.

"Anti-trust legislation is legitimate to the extent that it ends actual distortions of a free market."

Anti-trust legislation is antithetical to free markets.

"These would include extortions, manipulations, coercions, etc."

These were already illegal. Anti-trust legislation was enacted for political reasons, not economic.

[xzins]

My memory of history classes (near ancient by now) says that anti-trust legislation first came about to control John D. Rockefeller and Standard Oil.

That's the memory I'm operating on, but if it is wrong or not entirely right, then I'm willing to listen.