In some ways we bring it on ourselves by being such cheapskates. People post reviews in the app stores because they think $2 is expensive for an app then wonder why they end up with free software that sells their private data to the highest bidder.

It's not an "either/or" situation, apps compete on price and that's just not where they make their money, largely.

And then they overlook the actually good (real) free software.

I never had a problem paying for good software. The issue is that the paid software very often isn't better, that's why many people started gravitating towards the free apps, me included.

Nobody likes being scammed even if it's just for $2.

Take a look at any high quality non-free product and you will see reviews complaining about the price.

This isn't about not wanting to be scammed, this is about people wanting something for nothing.