it just depends on what you are trying to get out of poker.
if you are learning game mechanics....nothing wrong with a freeroll. If you are grinding a
bankroll out of thin air it's a perfect place to start.
I like the limited field freerolls (private entry, password etc.) because the value for your time is pretty decent. If you run deep you can easily come away with a profit that equates to more than $12 an hour...which is ok for a hobby.
the huge "everyone is invited" freerolls where like 5,000 or more people are competing for a first prize of less than $200? pssshhh.....I won't waste my time with these any more. What usually happens is if you run deep....you spend 5+ hours grinding and usually get nothing or like maybe $5-10. That equates to $0-$2 an hour WHEN YOU RUN WELL. If I am running good, playing good and outlasting 5,000 people in ANY form of
gambling I want to be compensated in the kind of money that at least buys me a car....