I guess the problem is that once there is a paid CLI tool, some other dev will make a clone for his CV / GitHub where even the compiled binaries are free. Now people have to choose between the OG tool and maybe pay for it or use the mostly feature complete (or feature complete for a specific use case) free version.
I would even go as far as the community will continuously switch to the free tool until the free tool has enough clout / traction to actually supersede or replace the OG tool.
Theory: At this point, tutorials which are consumed by the beginners in the field will select the free tool (because it has a bigger target audience, so better SEO), which makes this whole thing a generational thing? „Oh in the early days we had to pay for this, now we use XY which is newer and shinier and even free, thus better“
Theory: At this point, tutorials which are consumed by the beginners in the field will select the free tool (because it has a bigger target audience, so better SEO), which makes this whole thing a generational thing? „Oh in the early days we had to pay for this, now we use XY which is newer and shinier and even free, thus better“