Thanks for sharing this piece. One of the things I wonder about often is the economy of open source products. I see it a lot in my field, where python and r are displacing STATA and SAS.

It even extends outside of open source, specifically, and to free products in general. I remember when I stopped requiring a text book for my classes and found resources from Khan Academy that were sufficient.

I have a sense that eventually most digital and information products will be available for free, but I have less of a feel for how it will come to be funded at optimal levels.