If mIRC can't be made a freeware then maybe there should be a free version and another version that is shareware or you must pay to use it.
Maybe I have misunderstood your point here but mIRC
is shareware and you
must pay to use it after 1 month of usage. However, there is leverage for those who don't have the ability to purchase online in the form of mIRC remaining fully uncrippled after the 1 month period, so I don't see the need to make mIRC freeware