Ethically, I agree with the donation idea, but I also think that it will never work as those with the money to pay most likely wont as they will think "but they didn't have to pay". Open source applications are definitely replacing commercial applications. Companies still believe, though they use a lot of open source, that any applications other than development tools are to be purchased from commercial sources. If there is even a remote chance that it can affect their reputation and/or income. This is purely because of the lack of support available.
Companies need guarantee's, they NEED to have someone to blame when their systems fail. If we could market support to them appropriately then companies would be much happier to take on open source. All the examples above are used in educational facilities which will give companies the ability to put it on paper "our employee x123 has used this in an educational environment, we'll blame him".
You've hit the nail on the head Collie, it isn't realistic to expect that to work at this point in time. That's why I said the general public should work on shifting their attitude so that they ARE thinking "i like this, I'm going to donate" so that that model of open source and free software would work. My idea is more of an ideal than a reality, I believe it's what we should be striving for even if it currently isn't viable.
I think it depends on what it is. Take video games for example, they are nothing but software, yet people pay for them as do I.
I steal them 
Had a hacked XBox and downloaded them, for my current xbox and ps3 I steal them from the store xD
Perfect example, two opposing views on the same subject. Part of it depends on what the user considers valuable, and despite skidiot.h getting free stuff I'm sure there is something he ALWAYS buys even if he could get it for free. I may be willing to pay $60 for skyrim when it came out, but i know guys who just dont think videogames are worth that much. Same goes for music, an album I might be willing to pay 20 for, you might only consider being worth 10. But that's the next benefit of the donation model, the consumer is only donating for how much they think it's worth meaning they never feel cheated and are more likely to continue to buy and donate from that developer.
