Craig Newmark points out that Glenn Reynolds did not get the full picture in Econ 101 if he thinks that people donating for stuff they could get for free is irrational. And as Craig says so well, it’s about the exchange of value for value, not about money. Of course you want to get as much as you can for paying as little as possible, but humans understand the dynamic reality that if you don’t pay at all, the stuff may go away, and then you get no value in return.
Which reminds me, I’m off to Magnatune to buy those CDs I mentioned …