You’re still incorrect about “partially free”. If you want a free Volumio, then there it is, done. If you want to install plugins, then a simple email registration without any payments allows access to the Plugin Store. If you feel you would like some of the extra benefits of a paid subscription, then you are free or not to do so.
Actually, free is free, or how would @herculepirate explain the versions running in my garage and cellar where I never had to register or pay one penny for. With those, I do not need to login anywhere, but still listen to my NAS, use Spotify and Airplay, play webradio etc. and can upgrade to any new Volumio 3 version.
Hard to say. Moode works fine for me. It doesn’t autodetect my SMB sources but it works for me with a url like xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx/share. The Moode forum seems like the better place to ask this question. They’re very helpful.