Texrat,

While I agree with the sentiment that not everything is, or should be, free I do disagree with the theft of services issue. If I find an open, unencrypted AP with a broadcast SSID I feel that is enough of an invitation to use the service for light work. I would never depend on such networks without a proper invitation from the network owner.

I personally think that connecting to random open AP's is an invitation for trouble, but not for legal reason. Security is my first concern, I would say a majority of open AP's are open because their owners don't know how to operate them, and those are the same people that are infected with who-knows-what and possibly with malware affecting the AP as well.

So I would rather use known WiFi points and BT DUN for gaps rather than make promiscuous connections to every open AP I can find.