[tcmart14]

They do charge for extra benefits, if you need them. But you can deploy a server to production today on Debian and be fine. Unless your in the case where you need to pay for support (regulatory).

Just because RH, Suse and Canonical charge, does not mean those are requirements. You can always opt to have linux and not pay for their support.

[pxc]

Right. Linux vendors charge for services; Microsoft charges rents.

[firesteelrain]

> Just because RH, Suse and Canonical charge, does not mean those are requirements

You are leaving a gaping hole in your servers if you are not patching them (the distro's that charge and you decide not to pay)

[pxc]

If you can handle the churn of building against a new platform every year or two instead of every decade or more, you can keep all your stuff patched without an extended support license.