That may be true, but your point is the same as the author's, that desire should be the motivating factor. Whether you chose the free or paid route is immateria

That may be true, but your point is the same as the author's, that desire should be the motivating factor. Whether you chose the free or paid route is immaterial. And FWIW, there are plenty of reasons to pay for tools and learning resources, not the least of which is that some people prefer learning in the "guided mode" that these resources provide.