I think it's about the demographics. College students are cash-poor but time-rich, so they are more than willing to come in early and circle around to find a spot if it means they don't have to pay. College students are generally more liberal, so the capitalistic way of selling resource to the highest bidder naturally attracts resentment.

If the community collectively believe paying-with-time is the best way to allocate resources, charging parking fee is nothing more than money-grabbing.