Proprietary software gets a bad rap, but in my 15 years managing enterprise systems, the open-source alternatives often cost more in total—hiring specialists, fixing compatibility issues, and dealing with sporadic support. A client spent $200k on a 'free' CRM overhaul and still had downtime. The real issue isn't license fees; it's accountability when things break. Should we judge software by its price tag or by the reliability and support behind it?