>I read this as saying CM7.5 should work with vfp7, but don't call for support. How do you read it?

That's how I would read it.

>I've got vfp9 (but haven't installed it). Need to support some vfp7 / CM7.1 clients at least for the near future. Don't want to buy a new pc for vfp9 / CM7.5 if I can avoid it.

Then install VFP9 and CM7.5 on your existing machine. CM7.5 can be loaded as well as CM7.1 as long as you use a different top level form name ie., if your CM7.1 installation is installed into C:\Codemine, the install CM7.5 in c:\CM75 (or whatever you like). VFP9 will sit along side VFP7, no problems (as long as they don't end up sharing the same resource files).

>What is the risk if I install CM7.5 over the top of CM7.1 on the pc that has vfp7 and (soon) vfp9?

The risk is, you will lose 7.1 <s>

>What do you recommend?

Install them all side by side as suggested above.