But there are exceptions.
thedan is such an exception. He offers professionial and beautiful skins at ibplanet.de and they are free to download.

But high quality skins must not be expensive:
At kloobik.com you can pay via allopass which is a fair trade because you get high quality skins for a small fee.

At this site I continue to install available skins.

Have fun.

The Sources

ibplanet.de
http: ibplanet.de
Author: thedan
Language: German
Availabilty: At the moment only skins for ipb 1.1.x, skins for ipb 1.2 will be published when ipb 1.2 final is released.
Quality: High quality and professional skins
Price: free

skins.kloobik.com
http: skins.kloobik.com
Author: kloobik and team
Language: French
Availabilty: ipb 1.3 (and 1.1.x, ipb 1.2)
Quality: High quality and professional skins
Price: Download per allopass. You have to call a 0190-telephone to get your access code. About 2x1,86 Euro per skin.

nbsdesignz.com
http: nbsdesignz.com
Author: Different authors
Language: Englisch
Availabilty: ipb 1.1.x, ipb 1.2
Quality: In most case (semi-)professional skins
Price: free after registration


ibplanet.com
http: ibplanet.com
Author: Different authors
Language: Englisch
Availabilty: Skins for IPB 1.2
Quality: Different quality, some beautiful skins
Price: free


Rings.Skins
http: rings.awake2life.com
Autor: Rings
Sprache : French, English, other languages on demand
Verfügbarkeit: ipb 1.2
Qualität: High quality skins
Preis: Download per allopass. You have to call a 0190-telephone to get your access code. About 1,86 Euro per skin.


invisionskins.com
http: invisionskins.com
Author: Different authors
Language: Englisch
Availabilty: Skins for IPB 1.2
Quality: Semi-professional skins
Price: free


drunkfoundation.com
http: drunkfoundation.com
Author: James
Language: Englisch
Availabilty: Skins for IPB 1.2
Quality: Semi-professional skins
Price: free


List will be continued ....