FREE vs. PAID Themes has been a source of consternation for me for many years! While I don't mind paying for a theme that works and has great SEO, I detest the annual charges that many of these themes are after, offering you the world yet hardly giving you a ROI.

The infamous WordPress themes marketplace has sent me into orbit on so many occasions because it seems bogged down by a select few who for no logical reason occupy the top spot, like a crusty layer of mold on top of your biscuit that you would like to bite into.

Having said that, the irony is in the power of choice. The more themes you have, the more options you have; while at the same time, the more themes you have the less time and motivation you have to explore them all.

This hurts (puts restrictions on) the small blogger like me who runs a blog for fun and a bit of extra income. I love what I do and I think it is a bit unfair to castigate people trying to make money on the internet by developing a theme for profit; I happen to think it's unrealistic to solely have WordPress powered by 100% FREE themes as economics will devolve the industry. Just my 2p.

I love that this article explores "crippleware" in the way that it does because it truly represents the hardships and challenges of bloggers like myself who are on the front end of much of this idiocy. When I find a great theme, I am overjoyed and in love! However, it's like anything else in life: nothing worth its salt is not worth it without a bit of struggle, and the whole WordPress game is no different.

There are great themes out there, I think we all are looking for a better system of matching them to our specific needs.