practically free weighs a little in terms of the fact that the biggest criticism regarding this is the delay in updates.
Yes it does weigh a lot. No, both sides do not have strong arguments.
I don't know how difficult this is for people to understand.
It's a free game for anyone who wants to play it, provided free by the developer. Anything a free player gets, whenever they get it, is still free.
You get it free if it comes out today.
You get it free if it comes out tomorrow.
You get it free if it comes out next year.
You get it free if it comes out next
millennia millennium.
(edit: happy, Omnikuken?)
You get it free.
If you have paid specifically for a product or service with the understanding that you get the product or service either on a certain date or receive expected services or updates on a certain calendar and then you don't get it - yes, there is a legitimate argument. That is something similar as what you might see on a Steam service, or in a brick-and-mortar business. But that is not the case with most creatives on patreon. That is not the case with darkcookie. For darkcookie and most creatives on patreon, a contributor is donating because they enjoy what the creative is doing - there is no product promised for any contribution.
There is an old saying "never look a gift horse in the mouth." This means that if you are given something, accept it gratefully or refuse it, but to bitch about it is ridiculous. The developer gives this game free to anyone who wishes to play it. Subscribers who donate for darkcookie to continue working on his vision make that possible.
Would it be nice is updates came out quicker or had more content or content I would prefer? Sure! Do I think darkcookie has issues with project management? Sure! Would I like to see everyone on his payroll work fulltime on the project? Sure! But since its free, it's not a concern of mine.
Just because someone wants something free quicker and they may think that the person who is going to give it to them is dragging their feet doesn't give them a "strong argument." Just because they don't understand the economics of the market in which something is going on doesn't give them a "strong argument." Just because they want it now doesn't make it a "strong argument."