Is there really that big of a difference between $20 and $55? Are you writing for low-income designers?

I'm writing for beginners with little to no Photoshop experience, who do this as a hobby. Not everybody has $50 to spare on some tutorial they see (including me). I want it to be more accessible to people, so a freeware font would be nice.

The effect? Not really understanding what you want in regards to Bello. I suppose Arial is to Helvetica in what i understand you're sort of wanting, but Bello is pretty unique and finding some random typeface online is unlikely.

Edited

Are you creating a illustration comp using Photoshop? Feel is one thing, but the user could use any typeface to at least try the techniques out.

They can try effect out, I guess. Heh. I just decided to go ahead with the font.
You can check out the rather simple tutorial at http://magnusfx.com/graphics/text-quickie-bello

Too late now, I guess, but check out Talking Five Heavy. A very nice font for $12.

Also, while it's a bit lighter, lots of Windows users have Maiandra Demi Bold because it is bundled with various MS products.

Also Woodland ITC Heavy.