Just speculation based on observing internet dynamics for over ten years, but seeing Google's stock price doesn't seem to take a hit when offering their stuff for free, couldn't this be seen as a way for Google to generate more ad driven site activity across the web in general which in turn gets folks to search on tutorials or discussions on how to use free software?
As an example of this kind of internet dynamic in the past days I was spending so much time researching an ELO "Out Of The Blue" CD that came out in 2007 that had been remastered. I couldn't believe how much online talk was generated by not only music sites but also sound engineer forums offering their opinions and technical details on past re-issue comparisions. Pages and pages show up on Google about this.
All that over a $10 re-issue of a '70's album I never heard but was familiar with the hits off it played in constant rotation over the radio back then.
And see, I'm talking about it again to you folks. Now what were we talking about? Oh! Nik Collection is for free. I just paid $8 for "Out Of The Blue" album. Why do I feel so used all of a sudden?