FOSS has value in other places too. In particular it has value when software isn't your core business. As such, you develop instrument software, analysis tools,

FOSS has value in other places too. In particular it has value when software isn't your core business. As such, you develop instrument software, analysis tools, support tools etc. which supports your core business and give it away for free. This does 2 things: 1. If your open source package gains widespread adoption, it gives you control of the tools that most users in your area use. 2. It levels the playing field and takes software out of the equation to a degree. Competitors have little reason to develop their own platforms when they can leverage yours. ---- In addition to that, I think FOSS software is valuable almost everywhere else, but as you say, does lead to different models. Data analysis software is probably a good example of this. You write the analysis software, it gains widespread adoption. You provide a data analysis as a consulting service. You can claim to be the leading experts in the leading package (because you wrote it). I think this model also works for RedHat and others.