1)There is already free content podcasts and Webapps.
Moving webapps to free widgets (sdk or web) lowers bandwidth improves exprience adds confidence for people like banks to add secure online banking apps for their customers, not apps that are likely to be paid for. Nothing bad for Apple or At&t to allow a free app channel.
2) is more about at&t and how they have written there contract. If they don't want or haven't allowed for such things and haven't expressly written that in to the contract then most of their shareholders should be annoyed.
Not Apples job to maintain that, if anything Apple job in the carrier relationship is to create demand for higher bandwidth and value contracts which is good for both.
3)three is about confidence in the product and the brand name. it's not unreasonable it's expected.
as long as the applications are cheap, i don't mind paying a few bucks for something that i will always have and use constantly (unlike a $12 movie). I think that if the developers are getting paid a decent amount for their apps, the competition will be better, and we will benifit with better products.