Couldn't it be argued that people just have a large preference for free content regardless of how they find it? With such a focus on money, having it, and keep

Couldn't it be argued that people just have a large preference for free content regardless of how they find it? With such a focus on money, having it, and keeping it (especially in the West), it seems only natural that people would naturally gravitate towards free content of all kinds. If not through HN/Google/wherever, it seems they'd spend the time figuring out a way to find it elsewhere.