fwiw, i was totally against depositing when i started (because i had no idea how to play and was adament that i wouldn't lose money playing poker) but i got a $15 free roll, which IS enough to start from, whereas $5 or less really isn't unless you get lucky or are willing to take forever to build it. Now, i am more in favour of depositing if you have played some freerolls and read some stuff so you have a basic understanding. The $2-$3 sngs are so terrible and you can certainly build a roll rather quickly playing them w/ like $50 or so.
But as some1 earlier pointed out, it depends on what you want out of poker. If you are happy grinded micro games and never making any money at all out of poker, then just play 25c tournaments or whatever, but IMO you might as well keep playing play money since both are about as pointless as each other. If you want to learn and actually build a proper roll and make some decent money, then i'd play freerolls/micro stakes/read everything you can find about poker, and then deposit $50, follow good BRM and you have a chance of building a roll and moving up. I realise taht depositing isn't an option for some ppl, but trying to build from freeroll winings or a micro roll (while possible) is not the most profitable thing you can do if you intend to move up stakes, have money available for deposit/a method by which you can deposit, and are comfortable enough with your game that you can beat micro stakes (ie. at least half of your brain is functioning).
Freerolls/super micro games should be a method by which you gain exposure to poker and learn things about board texture, relative strength of
hands, hand ranges, etc. not something one should be trying to use to build a roll, as it will take AGES just to get off the ground and have a few $$s in yoru account.