Then how do people make a profit? 1970-01-01
There are several ways to make a profit, life would be pretty boring otherwise. Examples include:
- brand prestige, goodwill, loyalty
- the network effect
- walled gardens
- switching costs
But none of these factors are so powerful that a company in a free market can extract exorbitant profits from a customer unwillingly paying with no better choice. Note that intellectual property would not exist in a libertarian system. Of course, people sometimes buy products/services without doing their due diligence or simply not caring enough about ease of quitting, ease of repair, control, etc., and later face difficulties, but that is simply the consequence of their own decisions.