I'll pay for a quality app that is useful/helpful/productive if there isn't a good free alternative. The only one I can think of on the top of my head is office apps on my old phone (came with a pretty poor quality suite).
I've paid for a few games that I found beautiful and worth supporting: Quell Reflect (got Quell from Amazon free app), CrossMe Premium (intellectual game), and Monument Valley...actually, that was free on Amazon, too, for a day. Considered buying it, though.
I've never paid for freemium, and also think it's pretty dumb. If I lose all my lives, I wait. If I get frustrated, I'll take a break. It's not hard. Goodness.