Quote:
Originally Posted by eschwartz
You must not read classics then.
Neither do I, but at least I know they exist. 
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Depends on the definition of classics.
I don't read the Iliad anymore (did so 30 years ago).
But I'll read Daniel Defoe, Oscar Wilde, Victor Hugo, Alexandre Dumas... I consider them "classical literature" (project Gutenberg agrees).
But even though they are out of copyright, you still can buy them as special editions. And I do so. I avoid free stuff. In German we have a saying: "What costs nothing is worth nothing" and I find some truth to that.
Some will say, the classics in MR are more caringly prepared than classics you can buy.
Still:
For one, I enjoy buying. There's something satisfying to purchasing.
And last but not least: Like I wrote before: What are those € 10 compared to your mortgage, gas costs for commuting and other costs for living. Many care about the cents and forget about the bills...
Admittedly, I reflected my own purchasing behavior onto the others and simply din't consider free stuff being that important. Still: If you download a freebie, be it classics or be it some bonus program form Amazon, that's the same process as buying a book from them. You check it out and all the other process steps.