Regular users have no way to reliably identify the software producer's website. Advising them to "just google it" is likely to end up with them clicking a scammy AdWords link where paying $40 to download some freeware counts as getting off lightly.
If you download something from the programmer page it is impossible to be sure that it has no spyware/crazy-toolbars/whatever. Some time ago, if you download it from download.com you know that it was safe.
True but when you want to suggest to a novice "Why don't you use "X" "
It is unrealistic to expect them to search for X in Google, go to the appropriate link of X's creator, figure out the right page to download it from.
Instead - Go to filehippo search for X in the big search bar at top - download first result - is a much easier workflow. (Trust me on this one - I tech support about 6 relatives)