I think the answer is pretty straightforward to me. If the internet hadn't been what it was then I probably couldn't even communicate with you, because I would never have picked up enough English to do so. This is just one effect of so much of the internet being freely accessible. If payment had been required I probably would've stuck to my native language sites, if I had used the internet/computers at all.

I think the internet providing so much information for free is what made it so amazing. I understand that it's not really free, but it's at no monetary cost to the user. The moment you slap a monetary cost on it you create a disincentive for the user to engage with the service.

I do understand though that nothing is free. We are probably going to pay a large price as a society for it.