[punee]

Let me get this straight.

Your contention is that if companies did not have to buy advertising to sell their products, they would subtract the advertising cost from their sales price?

You have a very unusual definition of being "fooled". Paying for something you can get for free is what most people would recognize as being a fool.

That companies decide to choose a different business model to offer for free what their competitors make you pay for is just innovation. It has zilch to do with being "honest" or "straight up".

Here's an interesting question: how come people buy bottled water when they could just drink tap water? I mean, shouldn't people be "fooled" by all the "free" water? How come the "straight up", "honest" water bottle company that sells its product at a price manages not to die? (Hint: it's not because they're not advertising).