Windows monetizes like crazy, too. As did Blockbuster. As do highway robbers. Companies can monetize at the expense of goodwill all they want. It doesn't impre

Windows monetizes like crazy, too. As did Blockbuster. As do highway robbers. Companies can monetize at the expense of goodwill all they want. It doesn't impress anyone but their accountants and investors. Meanwhile, users grow resentful. Companies with a user product should value the user first and configure their business accordingly — it's just the only viable long term play. If you do crappy things to the user for short term cash, that becomes your long term play because you become dependent on the money. And in the long term, you lose to the guy who doesn't treat users like crap. Edit: >All sites start out idealistic, and then start making compromises in order to survive. And if Zappos had taken this advice and compromised by screwing their customers for cash, would they have sold for a billion dollars? I mean, a billion dollars, all for not being a dick to users or cutting corners at their expense. Thats the value of ideals you won't compromise.