>Outfits like Gartner and IDC analyze business practices and trends all the time. That's what they do. A cursory Google just now didn't turn up too much, mostly about Silverlight adoption rates.
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>I'd be a bit surprised if you found something from Gartner that would have a broad scope on this particular issue, as this isn't exactly Gartner's bread and butter, but if you feel the need to find one...
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>As for RCs, they're very close....but there's always the chance of a breaking change between RC and RTM.
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>Final note, both for you and JR - no secret that my favorite author is Ayn Rand. Well, she had some oddities - such as smoking like a chimney even after the Surgeon general's report came out - she used to say things like "all you can offer me are anecdotes, which I can easily refute....you cannot offer me any rational proof that smoking will harm me". You and JR sound a bit like her.
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>Well, she died from it. Of course, no one will die from not acknowledging what's obvious to anyone who actually has both feet in this field....that acceptance and adoption of SQL 2008 has been greater than 2005....but I do think both of you need to get a better perspective.

Good lord, don't compare me to Ayn Rand! lol

PS -- Not responding to the end of your post. You said you were out of the debate and I think that's a heck of an idea.