I would be lying if I said the idea of millions of sales is appealing when you're a writer. Making an honestly living off a book is a prize few of us attain. But it's hard to compete for sales when you're surrounded by hundreds of 'freebees'. Each book I download on a free run is adding to the strength of that competition. It seems tough to compete with 'free'.
On the other hand, it's hard to justify spending hundreds of dollars on books I may never read again. It's hard to give emerging writers a shot when you have money in the equation. Even 99 cent books add up over time, and it takes a decent salary to support a hungry reading habit.
In the end, I just become more selective about which books I buy. I pick up my normal freebees, support authors with my reviews and feedback, but when a book truly dazzles me, that's when I make the effort to purchase. I found one of my favorite authors through a second hand store, and now each book I buy from her comes from my dedicated reading budget. While I can't support everyone, I feel it's important to do what I can for the authors who have the most impact on me.
While I don't feel there is a 'right' answer on this topic, that is at least my take on it. Here's a little info-graphic to leave you with.
