>My thought is that was the plan all long and what was said about HTML5 and Javascript slipped out.

It's funny you say that. I was also thinking that if they hadn't mentioned HTML5 and JavaScript at all at D9, much of this would be less of an issue while waiting for details to be announced at the Build conference. It seems clear to me that the Win8 UI is based on IE10 components, and that you will be able to write HTML5/JavaScript to access the IE DOM plus the Windows Runtime APIs (in a type of HTA), as well as via Sivlerlight, as well as using a new 'evolved' set of WPF/Silverlight/XAML based tools. I think those who think Win8 is 'exclusive' to HTML5/JavaScript are the ones who are confused, and basically incorrect.