>>I am now certain that MSDN is a suitable (though significantly more expensive) alternative to VS.
>
>Here's the angle. Get you boss to cough up $100US*2 to get 2 people certified in an MS product and you can become a MCSP which includes the MSDN universal for $1395US. MSDN Universal costs hmmm about $2000US-$2500

Doesn't MSP stgatus require more than MCP status - as I remember it, you need MCSDs, MCDBAs or MCSEs, not just MCPs.