Very interesting thread.

I've been making freebies for a couple of years now, and I always strive for quality. That's just my pride - whatever I release into the freebie section is as good as I can make it with my current skill set.

In a way, nomuse is right, you can "get away", sort of, with freebies that don't have all the morphs, or don't have a good UV map, or don't bend perfectly.

In another way I disagree.
Releasing freebies is the best way to build a reputation. If you're known for consistently releasing top quality freebies, your entry into the marketplace will be much smoother.
Aery_Soul has been mentioned. Not only does Aery_Soul release top quality marketplace items - that sell pretty well despite being fairly expensive, Aery_Soul also releases top quality freebies. Same goes for Danie and Marforno.

Freestuff is promo material. If you release good quality freestuff, customers will have faith in the quality of your commercial items.

The pen is mightier than the sword. But if you literally want to have some impact, use a typewriter

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