I believe the reason why Gavin was giving out 5 Bitcoin free was because back then the value of Bitcoin was almost nothing compare to now that the value of Bitcoin is crazy. And some of the people that was dashing out Bitcoin and were using it anyhow are somehow regretting now because they didn't know Bitcoin will be this great and Bitcoin will continue to be great as long as it continue to exist.
I disagree with you bubby, because what you said above is not the reason why Gavin was giving out 5 bitcoin. If you read what Mr Gavin said on that thread you will understand that the reason why he was giving out 5 bitcoin for free to people was because he want the Bitcoin project to succeed, because he thought that the bitcoin project is more likely to be a success if people can get a small amount of bitcoin's to try it out. And not because bitcoin had no value back then, although there is no doubt that bitcoin value now can't be compared to back then when the bitcoin project was just starting, am still putting to you that even with the current price of bitcoin there are people out there who are still capable of giving out 5 bitcoin to people for free just as Gavin did back then.
Both you and @Derekfunds are correct. Just like the Pizza guy Laszlo Hanyecz, Gavin Andresen wanted Bitcoin to become popular and succeed. But they did that because it was cheap. Please you fit show me the person wey fit give 5BTC to people for free. I go just lap the person unit ASAP tell am my life story. Baba you know say 5BTC na $596,659.73, I doubt if anybody for this forum go do am now.