David,

SNIP
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>I believe it's a faulty leap of logic to conclude that the absence of the esteemed equates to satisfaction with the status quo.
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>It could be that many of them are already in frequent direct contact with Microsoft personnel and have chosen to make their voices heard on these issues by those means.
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The logic here being that one has only one bullet and some choose to use it in a different way? I donb't think that applies here either, though it can be a convenient excuse to stay mum.

>While I might sometimes sign a petition or group letter on various issues, I personally prefer to write a letter in my own words or express my views in person at DEVCON, etc. I just think that's the most effective way for me to exert maximum influence. To each his own, and I suspect that the group letter will at least demonstrate the support of a wide range of VFP programmers for the product -- something that should be reassuring to the VFP team.
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I'm of a similar mind. But how can it hurt to *also* add my name to this list?

>Whether it changes anything at the levels above Robert, Randy and Ricardo is pretty iffy, based on what has developed so far on the wiki, IMO. If anyone can demonstrate to MS that promotion of VFP will gain them new business without hurting SQL Server license income, you might get some attention. So far, I haven't seen much along those lines.
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There we go, assuming that we know and understand MS' logic for consistently doing nothing to market VFP. Has anyone ever actually heard MS tell someone that hurting SQL sales is *the* reason for downplaying VFP???
Also, those who may now be using MSDE and would (in MS' eyes) be logically moving to SQL Server as their next step are not so naive as to think that they simply install the different product and forget it. They know that SQL Server has tons of additional support/service implications adding even more to its hefty price tag.

>I'd say the best case to make is how MS can net more money by promoting VFP heavily, with details to back it up. Anything less is just a show of support, not a compelling business case.

Again, and as was implicit in the in/out of the box discussion, is the fact that too many shops discount VFP as a product under death-watch. Having it in the box let many sneak it in the door and prove its advantages. But actually marketing VFP, be it in or out of the box, would show once and for all that VFP is not about to be ditched. Making that clear would open up the full market of small/medium businesses. Think of the sales involved!

Regards,

JimN