>Futher, there is a big difference between using VFP 7 and accessing VFP data via the ODBC Driver and/or OLE-DB Provider.

Actually, not really. With the OLE-DB providers support for Stored Procedures and the like, its possible for someone to create most of an application written in VFP7 withtout ever paying MS for using their product. That seperates it from JET (which is free anyways) and SQL Server (where using the OLE-DB provider leads to a huge license fee). There just happens to be no VFP IDE or GUI components.

You said your a fan for calling things for what they are. To me, it looks like you're suggesting that the Visual FoxPro database should be completely free of charge. Correct?

>Quite frankley, the strategy is flawed because few people will upgrade/buy VFP 7 based on the fact that an OLE-DB Provider exists. Second, in a few respects, such as adding rows of data, the ODBC driver works better than the OLE-DB Provider.

Once again your taking basic business ideas (company creates a product that consumer pays for) as being some strategic scheme. Care to point to evidence to support the claim that MS charging for the VFP7 feature is anyhting more than business as usual?