That is because you are misinterpreting what FREE and NON FREE means in the world of GNU-Linux
Free means apps and drivers created by groups or individuals and issued under a GNU licence [free of copy-write etc] and referred to as being FOSS
Non-free are apps and drivers issued by manufacturers, usually they are copy-write and covered by various patients [there is not normally any cost involved in a Linux client making use of them
Purist users will not use Non-free drivers out of principle, but it makes damn hard work to install most distributions without them and well beyond most newbies.
That is why you will see me suggest Debian with driver pack.
