When their store application was new, it was caught doing spyware-like actions scanning through users' computers without consent or notice. Their "Free" games might come with another price you don't see. I wouldn't install it.

This is where I'm at. I refuse to give Epic a cent due to their anticompetitive practices and trash store/library UX (why the fuck does the android app not even have a library view‽ You have to just know what you've purchased and find it in the store), but I'll claim their giveaways all day long. AFAIK, they use those download numbers to budget for future giveaways, so this artificially inflates those numbers. If I'm interested, I'll treat the free game as a demo and then buy the game on Steam if I like it.

I don't think that makes me better than anyone, it's just my way of getting back at Epic for their bullshit.

I don't see it as a flex I do redeem them and try out games with heroic as I know the devs still get paid by epic when you redeem them. If I like the game. I most of the time buy on gog or steam for the convenience.