>I'm not sure I understand this. Since Using ... End Using is a block in VB, it is difficult to "plug into the framework" no? My understanding is that it allows us to use an "unmanaged" resource, and control when that resource is relinquished, as opposed to wait until the Garbage Collector kicks in. Managing resources is a Client Application thing no?

The application is only code that calls pretty much everything in the framework. So, all IO, Internet connection, basically anything that has a chance of failing is all at a higher level. Thus, this is where all this is placed.