It all started this morning when my friend casually asked, "Hey, can you generate a QR code for me?" No problem, right? I mean, there are tons of free QR code generators online. But here's the catch—many of them come with annoying limitations. Some slap you with scan limits, others try to make you sign up for an account, and the worst ones? They lock your QR code behind a paywall like it's some kind of VIP lounge.