Why do we allow zero transaction blocks?

[DeathAndTaxes]

There would be no way to handle a massive amount of transactions without paying a fee of some kind? In other words, a completely free system to use?

Bitcoin isn't free.  It was never intended to be and never will be.  It is the largest distributed computing network in the world requiring hundreds of megawatts of power and millions of dollars in computing hardware.  What do you think pays for it?

[dooglus]

The wallet always attempts to reduce the fee using older coins as necessary to minimize or eliminate any fee.

Are you sure about that?  I thought it didn't.

[dooglus]

The wallet always attempts to reduce the fee using older coins as necessary to minimize or eliminate any fee.

Are you sure about that?  I thought it didn't.

Read CWallet::SelectCoinsMinConf() in wallet.cpp.  It tries to spend as little as possible, ignoring coin age.