[ValdikSS]

> Sometimes I wonder if FOSS projects should start as paid

Why only start? Moreover, you're encouraged to sell other's people free (as in beer) software, if you want to.

https://www.gnu.org/philosophy/selling.en.html

>if you are redistributing copies of free software, you might as well charge a substantial fee and make some money. Redistributing free software is a good and legitimate activity; if you do it, you might as well make a profit from it.

FOSS projects does not have to be publicly available somewhere on the internet. That's only the "common expectation" (see all social aspects from my other comments).

I sell others' software, successfully. And contribute back, both code and money to the projects I sell. And everybody are happy! I wonder why this isn't used much often.