In addition to what Denis has said, and to put my own views on some of these subthreads that have spun off of here, I have a few observations/comments...

For starts, to Ed Rauh, most of us realize how that people get award MVP status solely based on past contributions. What you need to realize is that for the neonate just coming to a newsgroup, the MVPs are regard as gurus if you will, because they have been recognized by MS. They expect these gurus to continue providing accurate information in their speciality while they have the MVP status. It goes back to that whole human belief that past performance will predict future performance. That the MVPs do not see themselves as this does not negate the fact that the sentiments and expectations exist. Please do not see this as an attack. I am just trying to explain how the newbies and lurkers view MVPs.

I for one am sorry to see the blue envelopes go away. To me this is as much of an injustice to the MVPs as when MS tried to remove the program entirely. It is not as much an issue of MVPs no longer getting free PUTM benefits as it is to not be able to tell who is an MVP. Like it or not, when a newcomer to the forum asks a question, he/she has no idea what the credentials of the respondants are. Seeing the blue envelope of an MVP (once the newcomer figured out what a blue envelope was *grin*) was at least an assurance that the person responding has known what he/she was talking about in the past. Sure MVP is no guarantee of accuracy, but given the chose between taking the advice of someone who you bumped into in the hall and the person who has worked extensively with the tool for years, which would you take?

The free PUTMs for MVPs were a good incentive to keep the MVPs visiting the UT. I know most have just paid up for a PUTM and continued on, but what of those who have left? Many may say good riddance to some, but consider the input they have given over the years. Even if they were controversial, controversy is good. It keeps the community from becoming homogeneous and blind to new or innovate ways of doing things. I can see both sides of the issues here, but I can't help feeling that we've, as the saying goes, cut off the nose to spite the face.