Yeah.. I think people say "bundled FREE" when they really referring to MS enterprise packages. It's similar to how Comcast will sell you TV for $100, land line for $20, internet for $100, but you can get a TV/land line package for $90? or a TV/internet for $130. You can "bundle FREE" phone on your TV/internet package for an extra $5. (And yes, I heard support before tell me "For $10 more a month, you get a free upgrade to 1Gbps". ???? How is that free? They will say "It's the same package, but one level up for $10 more. It comes with free 1Gbps upgrade. what doesn't make sense?"
There wasn't, as far as I recall, "buy SQL Server Enterprise, get SharePoint Server Enterprise SKU for free" type licensing deals.
Yes, I didn't mean to say it was like that. More that you get discounts, credits, etc. Every EA agreement I heard of seemed custom and different for that enterprise needs. Throwing in Azure credits or a discount on a product if you get another product or increase volume, etc seemed to be typical.
In what world has SharePoint Server and SharePoint Standard + Enterprise User CALs ever been "FREE"?
> Security honestly feels like a service for a lot of giants.
While code security is on Microsoft, infrastructure security is on the organization deploying SharePoint Server.
Remember, the topic you're commenting on is about SharePoint Server. Not M365. Not SPO.