Whereas apparently it's OK to abuse the poor computer illiterate person with an open router, you're too stupid to set up your device to not connect automatically to any open network?
The whole idea of wi-fi by design of both HW and software is to be able to connect wirelessly to the nearest fixed unlocked access point (or locked if it has the key). But the future also has provisions for people to connect via a multitude of hotspots (already happening in many cities around the world), which mabe soon become so common as to be like mobile phone coverage, that would need a hell of a lot of 'wifi signs'.
What kind of problems would this create? - This is my argument, not wether this guy was right in freeloading in that way, (no! hes a cheap git who needs a slap), i just dont understand how it can be criminalised when there are such confused, irresponsible and negligent attitudes towards simple security. Which will obviously seriously impair the expansion of the 'sponsored free wifi' idea of fully automatic roaming (like the way a phone attaches to the nearest cell).
I mean, do you share your bank details with people, would you like your account to have free access? why else do we have SIM cards? PIN numbers? Passwords? WEP & PSK?
Anyway, im off to the pub as its saturday night :P