I fully intended to take it for free, but I paid for the book because the asking price is under my impulse-purchase threshold. Writing a book is such a time-consuming and difficult process $5 seems like a tip.
I by no means think that means everyone else needs to pay something for the book -- but I'm in a position to pay $5 today, and the book looks interesting, so it's worth the charge.
I downloaded it for free only because I saw the link while sitting in bed and didn't feel like looking for my credit card. I appreciated that the followup email had info about paying for the book by buying another of raganwald's books.
I by no means think that means everyone else needs to pay something for the book -- but I'm in a position to pay $5 today, and the book looks interesting, so it's worth the charge.