> Paying for gifts... does not work. When the context is friends/family exchanging gifts, I agree. But, given the context of the author's argument (open-source software), I disagree. When I pay for (sponsor) open-source software, I'm doing so because I want to encourage the relevant author(s) to continue applying their talents for the betterment of both myself and the world at large. I'm not paying for something I requested of them, nor am I telling them what to build going forward. If I knew a person who spent some of their free time helping relieve homelessness in some way, I'd be inclined to sponsor them in the same fashion.