Fed up.

[Swat Runs Train]

So, you're telling me that if I lift a 50 pound rock directly, I'll
gain more muscle than if I add pulleys and strings, and lift the SAME
50 pounds?

Sounds like you need a biomechanics/engineering lesson.

It's simply the range of motions in free versus machine, you mentioned the exact reason, pulleys and strings. It doesn't hit your stabilizers nearly as well nor allow people of below or above average size to utilize the intended motion.

Yes you will still see gains and to be honest 2 beginners, one starting with free and one with machines, you probably couldn't notice a difference after a couple months.

Not to mention the machines aren't identical, some of them simplify the workout so you can lift more, I can curl 90 pounds per arm on the machine but only 60 with free weights.