So is it really free or do you have to join WCI?
It is completely free.
At the classes I am the registrar for, I have a bucket for donations that go to WCI and there are membership forms in case people want to join and we usually have a t-shirt and hat table where you can buy WCI merchandise but I personally pay for sodas, water and coffee out of my pocket and any donations because of that goes to WCI as well.
I am only a WCI member, not an officer so I cannot speak officially for them, however, I have heard Nik say this often enough that I will repeat it.
WCI (and me) believe that licensing a right is unconstitutional and it is bad enough to have to pay the state $50 to get the license but then paying for MANDATORY training is also ridiculous so the commitment was made by WCI that they would do everything in their power to give away training.
This does not mean that WCI (or me) think ALL training is stupid, just mandatory training. People should get as much training as THEY think they need.