Like I said, I think I touched a nerve :)

From what you say you sound like a freelance software developer, so you will see the same issues again and again for different customers / systems. We have 1 product, which is based on FoxPro 2.6. We are in the process of moving to VFP where the water is lovely and no compatibility issues exist. We will get there, but there is a limbo time in between versions where people want to run the FoxPro 2.6 version on new kit. New customers also want to run our software on new kit. How dare I investigate this possibility!

Anyway you have your opinion and I have mine. My opinion is that we should put this issue to bed.