Some excellent comments and I certainly appreciate you comparing it to food to help me better understand. <g>
The fine line I have to walk is giving them enough to keep attracting free users and keeping them somewhat happy...and then also offering an extra service that appeals to a reasonable percentage of them.
I obviously never expect full conversion. I actually need free users for a few reasons.
I just want to kick the conversion rate up a little higher.
I agree we may be giving a little too much away. Especially the number of daily posts to freebies.
..but I do think there is a way to keep freebies happy, and promoting the site....AND entice them at the same time.