For a while, I had been buying BD Hotwire carabiners for creating alpine quickdraws. Blemished Hotwires go pretty cheap, just under $6:
http://www.rei.com/product/803811

Recently however, I noticed a quickdraw set for only $11 that had two wiregate carabiners. These aren't Hotwire carabiner, but Quicksilver biners with wiregates:

http://www.rei.com/product/798963

I figured for a savings of $1 plus a free dogbone, I might as well get these, provided the weight was comparable. I was expecting them to be heavier, but asking around 20 people couldn't give me a consistent answer as to which was heavier...not scientific, I know. But at worst, weight is negligible.

New Hotwire carabiners are lighter, but for an upped price. Is there any reason anyone has for not getting FreeWires instead of Hotwires (the old ones, at least)?

Those draws are a killer deal. If you need a solid draw with no frills, it's probably the best deal going. I like wiregates for their all-weather versatility and ease of clipping (without the hazards of bent-gates), and I'd get the FreeWires if I was on a budget.

Actuall, I'd wait to get OZ draws for $15 each and HotWires for $6/biner and stock up, which I did. Patience...