For this ‘Free’ economy to work, folks inputting value have to see value come out. Gatekeepers will attempt to capture the easiest and most direct forms of revenue. The question is, as the gatekeepers – the owners of wire and air or iron and screen – go from the growth curve they are on to the cut-throat competition to come, is there any doubt that they will use Free content to differentiate their own offerings? If ownership is fuzzy that could create situations that limit discourse and commerce in ways that are not ideal. (I’m now mixing the net-neutral arguments in but I think this all ties-in together.) Cell companies incorporate preferred connections into their calling plans already. If you’re not with AT&T it costs me more to talk to you.

So in the end, I agree with what you’re saying. The web-based infrastructure will be the solution and the ecosystem. My complaint about Free (the book) is really about the assumption it makes that natural market forces will reinforce it’s vision of Free where everyone can benefit, even the losers, versus one where large corporations can dominate in funky ways.