The biggest problem with payware developers is the ongoing maintenance. 

For instance, who is going to be around to fix the regular compatibility problems with each MSFS update in around 30 years time. 

Now before anyone yelps about this, I should mention that this is very "tongue in cheek"  

Tony

47 minutes ago, IcemanFBW said:

the Aero KC-10/DC-10

The wha?  I googled "msfs aero DC-10" and "aero DC-10 msfs" and got nothing.  Can you elaborate on this "Aero KC-10/DC-10"?

18 hours ago, jbdbow1970 said:

BTW that's a picture of a real panel.

No, I don't believe that it is

13 hours ago, Carts85 said:

I really think these guys should consider putting this out as payware. We know the quality that FBW can deliver and will no doubt deliver on the a380. Given what is on the market right now and I won’t bad mouth developers but let’s say lesser quality products that are being sold at a price fair or not, how would people feel about FBW putting this out for free given the time effort and skill put into their work. Donations of course can be offered but when we don’t have to the majority won’t donate I imagine and it’s their right to have that choice of course.

Be interested on peoples thoughts on it.

There are things available for free for non-commercial use that must be licensed and paid for (or may not be available at all) for a commercial undertaking of this sort. So doing this as payware would likely be more work.

2 hours ago, Mace said:

The wha?  I googled "msfs aero DC-10" and "aero DC-10 msfs" and got nothing.  Can you elaborate on this "Aero KC-10/DC-10"?

Aero??  Aero MSFS??   DC-10 freeware for MSFS??  I wish you would tell us more about this one.

Regards,

Ray

17 minutes ago, raymar said:

Aero??  Aero MSFS??   DC-10 freeware for MSFS??  I wish you would tell us more about this one.

Regards,

Ray

Ask @IcemanFBW -- I have no idea but would welcome a DC-10

7 hours ago, IcemanFBW said:

I'm absolutely thrilled with other projects taking this approach - the Working Title CJ4, the Aero KC-10/DC-10, and the Parallel 757 are just a few excellent examples that come to mind for MSFS. I can't wait to see what the freeware ecosystem in MSFS will look like a year or two from now.

@IcemanFBW,

Where can we get an update on the DC-10 at Aero? Tell us more . . .

6 hours ago, GACSavannah said:

No, I don't believe that it is

I see now I was pretty lethargic when posting that. Nice work by FBW

20 hours ago, Carts85 said:

I really think these guys should consider putting this out as payware. We know the quality that FBW can deliver and will no doubt deliver on the a380. Given what is on the market right now and I won’t bad mouth developers but let’s say lesser quality products that are being sold at a price fair or not, how would people feel about FBW putting this out for free given the time effort and skill put into their work. Donations of course can be offered but when we don’t have to the majority won’t donate I imagine and it’s their right to have that choice of course.

Be interested on peoples thoughts on it.

I use the FBW 320 often, But never as fully intended.  I just enjoy all the changes they make, the graphics, the new functionality. But again I never make a full flight using the full capability of all systems.

You might not want to bad mouth developers, I will. To some extend. At the same time the UK update was released a big payware developer slashed all of it's UK content in the marketplace by 75%. That is a good business model, but I feel that's trying to get the most out of it and take advantage of users by selling stuff that is (almost) obsolete in a couple of days or weeks.  Allthough I didnt own any, I will NEVER buy anything from that company,

I dont know exactely how big the FBW group is, but it is a lot of people. a payware developer can never use so many resources and have access to so much knowledge. 

I also feel that putting the heat on payware developers by groups like FBW and WT must raise the bar for payware, otherwise they are gone.

Another example why I like freeware initiatives is because these people are approchable. After yesterdays update FBW and WT released updates that solved my problems. (I know they didnt solve everything for everybody but the new update is not even 24 hours old)

 

Since it seems a lot of people are curious about the Aero Dynamics freeware KC-10/DC-10 project I mentioned, here's a link to their Discord server: https://discord.gg/j2Xtqv5vrz

And some pics of their progress (again, all credit to them - I don't work on this project but just admire what they've accomplished so far):

Some really interesting points of view that I had never even considered around freeware and payware. The eco chain is much more complex than what it would seem. 
Thanks guys 

6 hours ago, IcemanFBW said:

Since it seems a lot of people are curious about the Aero Dynamics freeware KC-10/DC-10 project I mentioned, here's a link to their Discord server: https://discord.gg/j2Xtqv5vrz

And some pics of their progress (again, all credit to them - I don't work on this project but just admire what they've accomplished so far):

Nice

On 3/9/2021 at 5:39 PM, DAD said:

Well, do what I did and donate. No need to wait for the A380...

https://docs.flybywiresim.com/donate/

Done!  Thanks for the link