You CAN download them for free but Open Office may be too big for installation for dial-up users. For that market share, they can run it from a CD and the next best thing is they can install them on as many machines as they want with NO license restrictions. Its all open-source software.
Yep! I downloaded a freebie. It's early to tell. It has many features though.
the important thing to remember is that only microsoft uses dubious business practices by giving away free or packaged software.
when other people do it,its competition