This post is somewhat in defense of this promotion, so please don't take it as part of some Daz vs. Poser mudfight.

Most of us here are skeptical about (or even critical of) this giveaway, but I'm sure the new Daz management has some dividends in mind:

Giving away 3D software means more 3D hobbyists. This is good for Daz.

These new hobbyists are learning about 3D on Daz products. This is good for Daz.

These new hobbyists will need 3D content. Being Daz software customers, they will be exposed to Daz-supplied content first. This is the big one, and boy is it good for Daz (they are thinking).

These new hobbyists will want to upgrade their free Daz products eventually. Since they took the trouble to learn the free Daz software, they will most likely buy their upgrades from Daz. 

There is some value in being able to say (to vendors, site advertisers, investors, whatever) that "X thousand copies of DS4 Pro were downloaded in February." They don't have to say "and the revenue from that was zero."

Now against those dividends, they have some percentage of their existing customer base being angry or worried because A) they bought this stuff 31+ days ago, B) because they feel it diminshes their platform of choice, C) because it's a sign of desperation, or D) all of the above.

I have no doubt that the new leaders weighed all sides and decided the potential dividends from new hobbyists will outweigh the potential fallout from the old ones (who, after all, aren't buying that much any more anyway). I may not agree with their conclusions, but their motivations from a business point of view have to be considered valid.