I personally like the freemium model and absolutely want to see these plugins in the repository. Since I don't often go outside the repository, I'm unlikely to even find a paid plugin unless it has a free/freemium version (or is *really* well known).

My biggest pet peeve is when plugin developers aren't clear about free/freemium state of the plugin, or don't clearly communicate the differences between the free and freemium.

I'm actually more likely to pick a freemium plugin when it comes right down to it, because I know the developer is making some money, and often that plugin has greater future potential even if I only need the free stuff right now.