VGBA is free; the games are not free. You can't really compare piracy or deferred payment (ie bought the ROM originally for the console and now playing it in an emulator) with app prices. lol Tell me how much that ROM for the GBA would have cost you and then let's hear how $3 is too much for a game...
This is the way the "shareware" model has worked for decades now. Doom is the same way, yet many many people paid the $10 (i think it was) for the second half (well, 2/3). I think Angry Birds is released with the same idea. If you like it, you buy the expansion to show your support and appreciation. If you don't, you're not obligated.
I'm not an app guy. In fact I openly protest to not wanting to see what new Cr-app your Iphone has. However now that I have my n900 I openly run around showing people what it can do. Why am I not a hypocrite well while they are showing me games and toys I am showing them how I can use my Device to turn on their Television(irreco); connecting to it with ease; and then bringing up my computer at my office miles away to pull photos off to show them(rdesktop). The N900 is not a phone or a toy, its a computer. Having some games and what not is nice but I think the point of this machine is being missed/wasted if its point is "farting apps"