This morning I found a link to a site with a whole bunch of free VSTs.
http://www.kvraudio.com/developer_challenge_2007.php
I've only had a look at the first one yet, and that one's good for ambient/background stuff. So I don't know how good they all are, but they're free (had to sign up for it though) and I thought some of you may be interested, may be able to make use of them.

Yeah, I'm a member there, they have tons of stuff. In fact, at first I started plucking off one vst after the other, but my computer got so clogged ---- if I need a specific instrument I'll just look for it when I need it... One is bound to find something suitable from it's HUGE archive.

For basic, but VERY easy-to-use vst effects with a really decent quality I can recommend these, they're free and do the job right.

Like PX suggests don't just download and install as 'much as you can'. A few years ago when it became possible to write your own vst plugins I also threw them into my plugins folder one after the other and then wondered why Cubase wasn't working properly and kept on crashing.
These are, as they say, developers plugins, try them as a developer would, one at a time.
Try writing your own ??

You want a funny plugin ? try the Delay Lama.
youTube examples :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OigSLFz90lE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m8HYRsELzCQ
download :
http://www.audionerdz.nl/cgi-bin/harrie.cgi?name=dl02 (enter e-mail)
(they seam to have taken it off every other download site!)

Yes Kjaerhus make particularly good plugins, I got a demo of the Golden Series GAC-1 from a ComputerMusic mag, I was VERY impressed, and got WELL into it, but as it was a new instrument on the market I couldn't find any way of getting it to live on after its try by date if you know what I mean.
Might be possible these days? I'll have to look.
Or I'll just have to get into Disassembling after all! lol

kings:  that was pretty nutty :P  who comes up with that sort of stuff??

good calls on the vst downlownloading thing--- i've also muddled up my computer before!

I'm not very educated in the ways of client programs that can utilise VST plugins... is there some sort of free thing that would be good for a person (who understands the concept of VST plugins) learn how to better use them?  I know of many commercial programs that can do it, but honestly, I'm not interested enough to pay lots of money just to familiarise myself with the stuff.

Probably nutters like us! 
If I understand you right TLS you want a program that can use vst plugins, like Cubase , FL or Reason  not to mention the more expensive pro programs, but you don't want to pay for them?
Audacity is a free audio editing program, this is a run-down of its functions : http://www.sonicspot.com/audacity/audacity.html , there's a link to the download at the bottom of the page. And it can handle vstplugins
Darkwave studio (Alpha version free) http://www.sonicspot.com/darkwave-studio/darkwave-studio.html can handle vstplugins but you'd have to get to know the program first.
http://www.sonicspot.com/quartzaudiomaster/quartzaudiomaster.html : This has a free slimmed down version that can deal with DirectX plugins.

Then there's Logic : http://www.sonicspot.com/logic/logic.html
From the review ; The demo version is an older less capable version than the current Logic line. This makes it hard to thuroughly evaluate before buying a full version, but on the other hand, it is a non-crippled version in the sense that it has no disabled save or print features, etc.

So your gay like Triton then? You wont try out a "slightly tampered" expensive program for free? 
http://thepiratebay.org/search/cubase/0/3/0  

Just went for another gander came up with this lot : http://www.hitsquad.com/smm/win95/HOSTS_VST/ well worth taking the time to sieve through, and then look for the free vst-plugins page ! lol

http://www.hitsquad.com/smm/programs/MaizeStudio/screenshot.shtml
http://www.hitsquad.com/smm/programs/MadTracker_win32/screenshot.shtml (the first 'music' program I ever used lol)
http://www.tobybear.de/p_minihost.html (Donationware, dont know what it looks like though, but sounds good)
http://www.hitsquad.com/smm/programs/MusicStuProd/screenshot.shtml (looks amazing!!!)
http://www.hitsquad.com/smm/programs/OUTIwin/screenshot.shtml LOL this ones for gays!!!

Have fun