Your observations are right Sir. Adobe Lightroom is a paid for product but this applies to the pro version where some classical features need to be paid for before access is granted. For general use, it is free to download and use by anyone. I've been using Adobe Lightroom for 3 years now without paying for subscription. One is allowed to use except for the pro features. It's more like Canva which allows users create designs for free but also has pro features that must be paid for.

What software should people use if they do not want to buy Lightroom?

I may not know if this sits well with some countries but I'll offer suggested softwares like Photoshop express and Snapseed with video tutorials on how to navigate them.

Thanks for your questions. I really appreciate your concern in making the challenge central and accessible to everyone.