The equilibrium comprises literal transactions, right? You should be able to find MANY representative specific examples to analyze, which would help determine whether your model of value is useful in these cases.
My suspicion is that you’re trying to model “value” as something that’s intrinsic, not something which a relation between individuals, which means you are failing to see that the packaged/paid/delivered good is actually distinct and non-fungible with the raw/free/open good, for the customers who choose that route.
Note that in the case of open-source software, it’s NOT a game of ultimatum, because both channels exist simultaneously and neither has the option to deny the other. A given consumer paying for one does not prevent some other customer (or even the same customer in parallel) using the direct free version.
The equilibrium comprises literal transactions, right? You should be able to find MANY representative specific examples to analyze, which would help determine whether your model of value is useful in these cases.
My suspicion is that you’re trying to model “value” as something that’s intrinsic, not something which a relation between individuals, which means you are failing to see that the packaged/paid/delivered good is actually distinct and non-fungible with the raw/free/open good, for the customers who choose that route.
Note that in the case of open-source software, it’s NOT a game of ultimatum, because both channels exist simultaneously and neither has the option to deny the other. A given consumer paying for one does not prevent some other customer (or even the same customer in parallel) using the direct free version.
I make no claim to fungibility or lack of value created by middlemen.