>Practical difference, I don't think so... and this is what rules the roost...

This seems to contradict alot of what you have said about how langauges are percieved in the enterprise. Strangly enough, VB's on the other end of the stick in this situation.

FWIW, I think that there is a practical difference between the standard langauge and the proprietary one when looking to maximize your return on investment in the langauge you choose.