>our past has shown that it does not lead to productive results.

I disagree. While nasty at times, the fact that our arguments are enscribed in the Michel Fournier's hard disk makes it all worth while.

So, lets consider where Microsoft's Research and Development is focused. Everything I've read seems to point that they are focusing on making better development tools and legitimizing Web Services. Would you agree?

How this excludes Visual FoxPro or Fox developers, I cannot rationalize given that:
A. The Visual FoxPro product is a Web Service publisher and consumer
B. That a new version of VFP is the works, and any development ground MS has broken, I suspect the VFP team will be able incorporate in the next version

Some more explaining as to how Microsoft's R&D efforts will convince companies to restaff developers and trainers along with hardware upgrades and software licesnses is also in order.

And I do understand that this is just your opinion.. or "bet" that we are discussing here. My only goal is to see if you can connect the dots any better than you have, or expose fallacies that you had not given any consideration, such as the false dillemia it appears you have presented.