> but without profit, people can't get paid, and they'll stop building

I wholeheartledly disagree. People build things all the time for things other than profit. In fact, most of the greatest things ever built were a loss for those who built them.

Dignity is the best motivator. Profit only supercedes dignity when dignity is not on offer.

Profit supercedes dignity when one needs to eat, because one cannot eat dignity.

Being able to spend a significant amount of time and effort on passion projects is a luxury most people can't afford.