> You can code for free this way
vs
> If you set your account's data settings to allow OpenAI to use your data for model training
So, it's not "for free".
Many folks, especially if they are into getting things free, don't really care much about privacy narrative.
So yes, it is free.
I was going to downvote you but you are adding to the discussion. In this context this is free from having to spend money. Many of us don't have the option to pay for models. We have to find some way to get the state of the art without spending our food money.