The "tweet to download" model is bad because you're forcing someone to endorse a product publicly before they even get a chance to try it, thus potentially hurting their credibility.

On the other hand, the "leave email to download" model is completely fair. Not only is it used by the overwhelming majority of companies (most apps require some form of signing up), but you're also the only one receiving those email. So the cost is entirely personal.

So in this case, it's really a matter of whether or not the transaction is worth it for you, and I don't think you have any grounds to complain.

P.S. I'm not the author by the way, I just get ticked off seeing that objection, especially when somebody is already not charging any money for their products.

Hey Sacha, I'm a huge reader of your blog and follow your work. I completely agree with what you're saying but I think you might be misunderstanding me. I agree that email to download is not a bad system. The problem I have is that in order to be apart to download the theme, you need to opt into his newsletter. This is different from registration because when you register, you are not forced to opt into a newsletter. This product isn't free. The cost having any theme is to be apart of an audience this creator is building. This is a weak cost admittedly but I think that it turns a lot of people off that they have to join his news letter because that doesn't fit in line with many people's definition of free.