[paulhauggis]

Anybody can do what you are mentioning. Competition is fierce and training and tech support aren't scalable for a small shop.

You also forgot to mention the culture behind many Foss projects: profit is seen as evil and your project will get forked, the second you try to turn a profit.

Foss users expect free support, bug fixing, and software. Part of the entitled generation of internet users.

If you want to make a living, proprietary services all the way.

[sarciszewski]

> Anybody can do what you are mentioning.

Yes, that's the point of free software. Everyone can.

> Competition is fierce and training and tech support aren't scalable for a small shop.

I think you're underestimating the degree to which most of the world outside of IT (and including much of the world inside IT) is too lazy to figure it out and would rather pay money for a black box that solves their problems.

> Foss users expect free support, bug fixing, and software. Part of the entitled generation of internet users.

Not all of us do. And if your audience is companies, not users, the goals align differently.

[paulhauggis]

"Yes, that's the point of free software. Everyone can."

So by open sourcing my product, I am opening myself up to all sorts of competition. Not a very smart way to run a business.

"I think you're underestimating the degree to which most of the world outside of IT (and including much of the world inside IT) is too lazy to figure it out and would rather pay money for a black box that solves their problems."

You're right. But if anyone can do it (mentioned above), it will eventually be a race to the bottom (based on cost) when software is equal.

"Not all of us do. And if your audience is companies, not users, the goals align differently."

I run a business. I wouldn't hire a 1 or 2 person shop for support of an open source project. I have had way too many bad experiences.

When you are just starting out, it's hard enough to make money. Why make it even more difficult by increasing competition and doing something that will not scale well?

I saw this in one of your other posts:

"I view business as inherently evil and selfish. I am choosing to engage in business because I don't care about being good."

I wish you would have said this in the first place. I would have not wasted the time responding to you.