[R] The hidden costs of GPL software? - None

[John]

Off hand, the costs of GPL'd software are not hidden at all.  R for instance 
demands that a would be user sit down and learn the language.  This in turn 
pushes a user into learning more about statistics than the simple overview 
that Stat 1 presents a student.

In contrast, any program that simplifies use also tends to encourage a 
simplified understanding.  So, I believe it can be legitimately argued that 
the real hidden costs lurk in "easy to use" software, especially commeercial 
software with GUI interfaces.

JDougherty