Yes, I highly support the free software approach. Free software is there to give the public a larger variety of options to choose from on the internet. Most importantly, it's giving an extra guide and practice for the newer software developers out there. Having the free software will inspire them to make and design newer and better software for the future.
Free software will definitely affect both quantity and quality of software. Because the software is free, the quantity of the software will most likely be more likely than usual. More people will be willing to download the software because of the lack of burden of having to find a way to pay for it. Because more people are able to use it, there will be more ideas and creations invented and shared, improving the quality of the software as well.
I believe that the current funding methods for free software is very sufficient. They may not have a direct profit coming in from consumers, but there are many other ways to earn back the expenses they've spent. Advertising is the main source of profit for free websites, and they can earn a lot from advertising alone. People often support programs such as free software and they may donate money to the company as well.
The current system for licensing is in a decent shape right now. People who support free software and are willing to share it with the public can do that. But for ones who want the option to keep their creations more private and hoping to make a profit from their hard work, they can do that as well. Free software that allows you to listen and sample music is a great idea; it will help the companies boost their profits because more people are listening to their music. As long as they are not providing links for the music to be downloadable, then there won't be any conflict.
Copying free software is completely legal, and it's a great opportunity for other people to learn from the software designs and then create even better software for the future. It really depends on the creator on whether they want their software to be freely available or not. They were the ones that invented it, if they want to share their ideas, and inspire others with their software, I admire them for that. But if they do decide to keep it licensed and wants to make a profit from their hard work, I respect that as well.
My group all agreed on that free software highly benefits the public. They provide a solid foundation for newer inventors of software and give them ideas on how to improve. We were also leaning towards the side of supporting free software, and that they should be available for the public. David talked about how free software companies can still make a huge profit such as from advertisements and such. Free software allows us to keep on moving forward and creating newer and better things.