In terms of 'freeing the source' AGPL without source attribution is just as 'libre' as with it - but with it, the effects I mention are possible - therefore it'

In terms of 'freeing the source' AGPL without source attribution is just as 'libre' as with it - but with it, the effects I mention are possible - therefore it's radically different when used this way than with the license alone, and so has a 'different spirit'. You are right though, that 'libre' software is not about economic freedom but keeping the software 'free'. One of the reasons I'm in the BSD/MIT camp - software doesn't exist in a vacuum.