I also prefer free programs wherever possible i.e. whenever there is a free alternative that is atleast as good as a payware version, and infact of all the apps i use, i only have 3 apps that are non-free :

Windows XP PRO SP2
ESET NOD32
Acronis True Image Home v9

The reason i use Acronis True Image and ESET NOD32 instead of free alternatives, is that i haven't seen any free alternatives that is able to rival them unfortunetly...

Just my 2 cents...