>Why do you assume that whatever happened with ODBC needs to happen with OLE-DB? They are different, and the work involved to create both was different.
>

I assume nothing. The SQL Server ODBC Driver was freely available and so to is the SQL OLE-DB Provider.

The difference is the fact that there is a need for people to upgrade/buy 7 and this is an effective way to achieve that goal.

I simply believe in calling things what they are...

>Perhaps you haven't noticed it, but the OLE-DB provider is a hell of a lot more useful than the ODBC Driver.
>

Depends on which provider we are talking about. If it is the Sql Server provider, I agree.


>
No, Access is an end user tool to create applications that interact well with Office. Visual FoxPro is many things, including a database. If you want to use the Database, pay for it.
>

Access, from a technical standpoint, is a file-based system. Don't confuse marketing and technical labels..