>>>>>TANSTAAFL
>>>>
>>>>But I wasn't asking for a thing which is similar or almost identical (as in "thing such as") to a free lunch. Nor were the users who got unpaid work done.
>>>>
>>>>Come to think of it, that mysterious free lunch must be an unique phenomenon in this universe. Nothing is said about its existence, only about this thing which is "such as" it. Hmmm... mystery indeed. Why the circumspect language?
>>>
>>>Means: There is nothing unpaid. Somebody always pays.
>>>
>>>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/There_ain%27t_no_such_thing_as_a_free_lunch
>>
>>That's what it's supposed to mean, but then "there's no free lunch" would mean the same. Why the circumspect language?
>
>Are we talking about "free lunch" as meaning that the lunch isn't under the control or power of another, and not being restrained, impeded or fixed?

The history of the phrase suggests that it's not about a meal in liberty, but a meal without financial or other material compensation. Or not even that, but rather about a thing which is such as a meal like that.

Maybe it can also be taken to mean "nothing is comparable to a free lunch"?