>So with XML, there's less to go wrong in areas over which I have no control.

This is an excellent point and one that doesn't get made nearly often enough I think. XML is just text and can be used in a variety of ways that can range from sophisticated tools down to something the application build internally.

You basically have full control of how the data moves, which in my book and in light of all the screw ups and version mismatches we've seen in last few years is a huge bonus.

I don't know what this says about the .NET platform coming from Microsoft. Although it uses XML for almost everything, it's all wrapped up in Microsoft's black box components that you have no control over. We can only hope that MS gets it right (and they better or else they're going to have serious trouble in the marketplaace competing in the Enterprise).