I asked this elsewhere but got no response but I'm intruiged...

does anyone know if the requirement for a download to be in the chart is that the customer has to part with cash?

Can a legal, free download from one of the participating sites be accepted as chart worthy?

A lot of majors (and others) push a single as a loss-leader in its first week in order to make a chart entry/pick up airplay royalties etc. so if you can release a single and lose money per unit can you not just give the thing away for free and hit the charts?