I too read this and I think it was the way it was being pointed out to everybody that you could get the set without making a purchase that upset her.

I must say I agree with you. It is unfortunate she thinks Cute badly and I believe the whole interaction could have gone better. I like to think the purchases you and I make, cover the expenses of the free design give away, even if it was a mistake in giving it. Live Laugh Download Stitch!

Cindy is one of the most generous site owner/designers out there. Her designs are not astronomically priced out of reach, and she is always having a sale. When she is giving something away, it is announced through ads, her yahoo group, and on site.
It was clearly posted that the coffee beans were free with purchase. If there was a glitch that made them go in as free, would you not notify the website owner instead of taking, and sharing the mistake? Cindy has just gone through having someone posting her design sets on a mega sharing site, and that person brazenly defending their actions.
It's unfortunate that only the one name was recognized, but there is so much taking and sharing of designs illegally lately, I can understand her frustration.
To many digitizers, this is not a hobby, it is their means of supporting their families. The tea buddies were $2! I don't see anyone on that thread posting that they have now gone and bought anything.