First off, I totally agree that you should support what you like so more of it can be made.
But there is something to be said about the non-profit part of these communites as well. People getting stuff for free sometimes make stuff themselves and give it back to the community; also for free, just because they like the appreciation that they get sometimes. It's like the GTS Oekaki (
http://www.ta-host.com/gtsoekaki/), you see work there that people have contributed for free, and it's not about money at all.
I guess what I'm saying is, contribute anything you can, be it artwork, project help, or donations- that's the kind of people we need in the community. ^_^