[ggchappell]

> if I were starting a restaurant, would I be asked to give away free food for a year until people decided it was good enough to pay for?

Maybe, if you were surrounded by other restaurants that were giving away free food.

I'm not saying he is right. Nor am I saying you are right. I think the bottom line is that you don't want someone as a business partner, if they have fundamental philosophical differences from you, in how the business should be run.

Regardless, I think you'll run into trouble if you provide certain services free, and then begin charging for those same services. It is reasonable to add premium services, which are charged for as soon as they are available, to an existing free service. It is also reasonable to charge for everything, with nothing ever free (or maybe just a brief try-before-you-buy). I wouldn't presume to know which is best for your business.