"Chaps"?
Is the poll exclusionary of those who don't self-identify as a "chap"? I must suppose not. Though El Reg makes no pretense of a democracy, or even of political-correctness, you're choice of "chaps" is old-boy-school i.e. it sniffs of patriarchy, or something similar. But I'm sure you knew that.
Curiously, the use of the term "retard" has long since fallen into (relative) disuse. It resurfaces, periodically, in school-age children. And, while I haven't checked recently, the "mentally retarded" are no longer referred to as such--different term, same referent, though.
Anyway, context is important, and El Reg has a culture of its own.
My preference is that the term "freetard" be used to refer to those who are 'all about free things, including pirated media and warez, but also freeware, and give-aways in general', but that "fossil"* (as in "F/OSSil") be adopted and used to distinguish from the more general "free"-lovers that group obsessing on the 57 varieties of linux and *BSD as the answer to everything e.g "Fossils are 'special' people and warrant a term that is more specific to their condition".
* I make this suggestion in full knowledge that the term "fossil", when used to refer to seniors, is mildly derogatory.