What if gas stations gave you a free oil change just for dropping by? No strings. You can buy a cola something inside or not. But if you like the oil, then you can reward the gas station by buying their gasoline. If you could do that, would you still go to a quick lube place and pay to have your oil changed? If you did, would you be willing to pay as much as you used to?

In the above scenario, if enough gas stations started that practice it could change how much value consumers place in oil changes. Rather than being something worth paying for in their own right, they’re an expected fringe benefit, like soapy water and a squeegie for cleaning your windshield. Why go somewhere to pay for it when someone else is giving it away for free?

I know it always comes down to supply verse demand and what the consumer will pay, but honestly I have read a LOT of interesting arguments on both sides of the fence and I am pretty much divided.

Point in case: if modern technology eliminates or reduces some factor from oil production… lets say pipelines and iron barrel containment, then how would you feel if the oil companies continued to charge you the same rate which clearly includes those costs?

I won’t buy physical CDs anymore because I would rather buy the songs at .99 a pop… and if a “new iTunes” appears with songs for .49 or .25 or .10 you can bet I’ll take my purchases there as well.

No matter that I work in digital medium, it just will never *feel* to me worth as much (economically/monetarily) as a physical book, physical CD, etc. Of course I will always being willing to purchase a digital file first if the savings are deep enough.

On the flip side there are times when even I will splurge and put out much more money for something I need to feel in my hands or have in my collection (Savage Worlds, Runepunk, etc.).

Would I be upset if the industry shifted to PDF files not being worth more than pennies a piece? Would I be mad if people stole Flatlands or my other PDF files and distributed them for free? Hell yeah. But am I mad that I am being stolen from or am I mad that I am not making as much money as I would like?

Does Tom Hanks deserve $20 million for his next movie?

Should Pro athletes (even the crap ones) have 6-7 figure incomes.. and triple that with shoe commercial deals???

Intangebility =>