Ken,
This is issue of perception. You spoke with SQL_Server guy and he gave you his own perception looking from his field, and everyone's field is naturally narrow. Look at this. Let's imagine some totally PC-ignorant person, whose only source of information is this forum. We are all reasonable and tolerant people, but this person would inevitably get understanding that Access is tool for idiots, VB is only about marketing hype and SQL_Server is decent tool to clean up client's pockets.
Speak with Oracle person about SQL_server.

>I was at "The Lab on SQL Server" yesterday in Philly - a MS event demonstrating advanced SQL Server 7.0 tuning tricks, demos, etc. I had to leave early and went out for an early lunch, grabbed my box-lunch and sat their eating. Soon I was joined by the session's first speaker who was also getting an early lunch since someone else was talking at the time.
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>I'm sorry I don't remember his name or exact title (never paid attention to it in first place I guess), but he is the "East Coast SQL Server Head" for Micorost. He definitely knew his stuff and has a pretty major job. (If you "rumour haters" need a name I'll go look it up)
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>He asked whatI did, and pretty soon we were talking about VFP. I asked him how VFP "fit in to all this". His comment was (near quote) - "Foxpro - geez - every time we try to kill it, there's too many VFP programmers out there and they're really loyal ..." . BTW - The "every time we try to kill it" part is an EXACT quote
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>Now you can take that good or bad or both. I think it illustrates what we all already know - MS does not WANT VFP - but the sheer number and dedication of the developers/users (us) FORCES them to continue to support it. That's a tough boat for us to be in. what it means - and as I have predicted before - is that they will "minimally support it" while hyping SQL Server, VB, VC++, and even Access until enough people attrition away from VFP that they CAN kill it.
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>I HATE this - don't get me wrong - and I'll continue to use, support, and even fight for VFP for as long as it makes sense - but SQL Server and maybe even VB are on my list to learn and master ASAP.
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>Ken
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>>>You should take a different tactic with clients. Tell them you are going to use Visual Studio...whichever tool(s) are best for the job.
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>>I think that's a very wise tactic. For me, it's also kind of a "stealth" tactic to get vfp officially approved as a standard development tool at my agency, which couldn't be done submitting vfp as a stand-alone tool...