>>I cannot use the latest SQL Server because some of my customers still use SQL Server 2008. So when I do any work, it has to be compatible with the customers.
>
>Compatibility check is definately a candidate for VM. With todays HW and possible problems with OS and AV, your development environment perhaps as well ;-))

Compatibility check, sure.

Installing a whole VM just because SQL server flatly refuses to even consider having a backup in a format which could be readable by its previous version... well, ridiculous upon ridiculous. The only reason I run two versions of SQL server in parallel (yes you can and no it doesn't hurt) is the customers who have them.