"...The ethical, political and long-term-general-good arguments revolving around Free Software are much subtler than an immediate doubling of cancer death rates. There is indeed room for considerable debate about just what if any the benefits are. But many people find the arguments for its value in the long term and its ethical importance very persuasive—indeed, you do yourself. In short, immediate efficiency is not the only valid question, the only measure of the “best” thing to do. The ethical, political, and longer-term benefit issues of a question do have a value..."