Quote - When I do a freebie, it is exactly that, free.

I originally do the freebie for myself and if others find it of use then good for them.

But.....

I don't expect a thankyou, or voting in a so called frrebie chart etc.

I'm just happy if someone uses it and I spot it in a render.

If anyone makes a freebie with the idea that people are going to vote for them or thank them, then think again.

As much as you and I disagree on a lot of things, I agree perfectly with you here. 

 

I come from a world where folks write code and give it away for free. The only thing we retain is copyright - but we allow others to modify and distribute the results freely, so long as those results are licensed similarly. 

My measure of "thanks" comes from the number of downloads, and the number of images posted online that use the items. If a lot of people use it, I feel good about it. If few folks use it, I figure it's either a niche item, or I didn't do something right, and I try to do better next time. Either way, I'm just glad that someone found a use for the thing. 

BTW, the key to success with this stuff is to not be emotionally invested in it. IF you can successfully do this, then please tell me how.

 

Long ago (!?) I had a fairly slack job in academia where I found myself with a metric ton of nothing to do. I used that time to make stuff and give it away, to muck about with CG hobbyist stuff, and/or generally entertain myself by being a pain in the ass in the forums. ;) 

Nowadays, time is a precious commodity. I work a well-paying position with a top network security firm - and my brain is definitely engaged on a daily basis as I do the IT equivalent of juggling not cats, but mountain lions. I am a part-time caretaker for my wife at home, as her condition slowly degenerates. I have social and religious obligations to my church and my community (as I type this, my missus is getting ready so that we can go do a bit of volunteer work today as kitchen staff.) 

Long story short, the time I get to spend farting around with polygons these days is real short... usually I steal an hour on the odd workday during lunch, or pop open the laptop when the missus takes a nap after dinner, or suchlike.

So, freebies are a bit of a shortcut for me in some aspects, but I still find myself making a few off and on as well. I show up in fits and starts here, very infrequently. I guess that gives me the perspective to see when things speed up, slow down, or other changes that the proverbial frog in a boiling pot just doesn't notice.

I pointed this out to get folks talking, and perhaps to get a movement of sorts sparked, so that maybe folks would at least think towards making the odd bit or bob. :)