I think you'll are whisteling in the wind at renderosity doing something about it.  It's NOT in there interest.
The freebees section is one of the biggest draws for this site or any site. The bigger and more active a freebee section is the more people come to see. And way big time the more people RETURN.
Now, this site has slowly been loosing return members (of course they deny(sp) it with corporate speek) but the forums, freestuff, the MP, chat all are on the downward curve of the business cycle.
The free stuff is, for many pissed off artist the only real reason to return here.

And jjroland
This site, as well as fairywylde, 3dc, theartzone, the3dzone and most others do require you to join. Including my own!
My previously store products that are now freebees are a gift from me to my members. A gift, not a right.
I don't post them here in freestuff, because of the direct link requirement.