>Michael
>
>I think it's a fine letter. However, we need to provide a reason why MS should do as we ask. "That we are suffering" will cause the usual useless hand-wringing but offers no prompt for MS to alter its commercial behaviour.
>
>Is there a negative commercial consequence for MS if they do not do as we ask? In other words, how does marginalising VFP reduce profits or affect MS's wider reputation?
>
>Profit reduction can only be so if VFP'ers do not have plans to move to VB or dotNET if VFP diminishes. It seems that many of the "leaders" have already taken steps to be sure they are able to make exactly that move, so the message MS gets from them may not be particularly helpful.
>
>As for reputation and other possible commercial cues: how does marginalisation affect MS's reputation, or what are the other consequences that matter to MS as a commercial beast?
>
>If we can get that right, we win.
>
>As for the rest of the ad hominem stuff you're being subjected to: your response of rising above it is great to see. Remember the Gandhi quote- they've ignored you, laughed at you, now they attack you, the next step is where you win. From what I see there are some real prats out there, some of whom pretend to be your friend and "help you" but are just nasty selfish little rotters. Keep ignoring them.
>
>Regards
>
>JR

Thank, John. For God's sake, though, let's try to tone down the rhetoric, so the whole VFP community can stick together in this. I agree that there's more of a case to be made as to why MS stands to gain as well, but we can elaborate on this subject on the wiki pages. For starters, this is a letter from a bunch of concerned customers to a vendor, and our serious concerns are plainly stated.

Mike