SNIP

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>You have no proof that business practicalities are impacted in any way by a shop's continuing to use VFP or, indeed, finally adopting VFP.
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>JVP replied:
>If you agree the talent pool for good VFP developers is decreasing, then by definition, the business practicality of using the tool is impacted (negatively). The fact that more and more companies are steering clear is evidence that companies recognize the impact.

I agree that the talent pool WAS dropping, seemingly rapidly. Also, and worse, I feel that the count of shops 'outlawing' VFP was growing even faster.
Some of that ground was recovered when VFP was put 'into the box' by developers trying it out (since it was there and 'free' and by developers stealthily deploying VFP apps. by adhering to shop rules of 'only VS is used in this shop'.
Furthermore, I think that Ken has/will cause an increase.
Sure, many will take the MS hype for .NET that is about to drown all else, and that may decrease the pool (again).

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>Your basis seems to be that .NET *is* better by far. No one knows that for sure. You're staking your claim on the success of .NET, no doubt based in large part on the 'fact' that the behemoth will market the hell out of it and MAKE it succeed.
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>JVP replied:
>I was anti .NET during the alpha and beta 1. By beta 2 and having worked with the product, I turned around. I did not respond to marketing rhetoric. If I did, I would have been on board since day 1. I think this gives my position an extra boost of credibility.

I'll grant you the credibility boost. But even your endorsement doesn't make .NET a success < s >. The market will determine that, over a period of years.

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>As for the bet, it is one I am willing to take...
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><<
>There have been other 'technically superior' products in the past that have fallen by the wayside for one reason or another. Just because it is MS that is behind this one doesn't guarantee its success. Especially in today's world, where there is a lot more concern about monopoly and costs and open source.
><<
>JVP replied:
>There are no guarantees... but the probability is more likely than not - .NET will succeeed...
>
I suspect that it will too. But that doesn't mean that it will overrun the marketplace. It could just be that MS' zeal to sell their most powerful and most costly tools to ALL shops is a misguided one. Sure, your Fortune 1000 may have lots of uses for the facilities of .NET. But that's not the world.

The most likely scenario, in my opinion, is that there is room for .NET and a bunch of other tools/frameworks/languages/facilities. And a possible scenario, once it is evident to more that the plan is for MS to CONTROL all accesses and data, is revolt.