I ordered mine about 4 weeks ago too. Three days later I received the CD. I uninstalled my VFP 5.0 and installed the new software. It turned out to be 5.0! I called MS and was informed that 5.0a only came on diskette unless I wanted the French version. It turns out that MS lists the 5.0a CD version on an order screen that not many employees are aware of.

>ordered 5.0a 4 weeks ago. requested cd version. yesterday, got 30 diskettes. good job, m$.