[mrweasel]

I was thinking the same thing. Say that someone builds a fantastic web framework, or the very best package for Node... say a single package that brings together all the comforts that would normally require 200 dependencies. Almost one would ask why you'd release that for free, source code included.

Honestly I think it's great. More of us should find small project, where the current selection is just awful half-baked apps, develop by someone who only goal is to stuff as many ads as possible into your face, and just undermind them with free well designed apps.

[skinnymuch]

Nearly every one who has built a fantastic web framework that went on to becoming very popular has financially benefitted from it. That kind of ubiquity can garner lucrative speaking gigs, consulting and contracting gigs, and more. These all being beyond what a normal brilliant developer would get.