1. It is absolutely wrong, the justifications posted above are all ridiculous. It's like jumping a turnstile; complete dirtbag move. The "I pay taxes for this public street" is the most infantile response.
2. No one is too poor to run a race, they are just making a choice to not pay for something which is easy to get away with, as opposed to stealing $25 worth of groceries.
3. Not using race resources is a meaningless gesture; most stuff is donated or free with good will or promotions in mind. The abuse and disrespect of organizers, organizations involved and other runners who pay, is what matters.
4. In some races it is a very big deal, very disruptive and people should be arrested. Every year at Falmouth, hundreds of fat, idiot bandits jump into the first wave of runners going 5:00-6:00 pace and wreck an already crowded start. Broadway is a public street, but they would arrest you if you began walking in the Macy's Thanksgiving parade uninvited.
5. Obviously lots of people feel good and want to encourage others to continue this. I don't really care, except extreme examples like Falmouth, I liken it to flag burning...it doesn't bother me and I love our country for allowing it because then I know who the idiots are amongst us.