>Jaime
>
>FWIW, none of this is new. In 1995, after a lack-lustre VFP3 release, Jeff Winchell went public and declared that MS was deceiving VFP developers in letting us believe that the product had a future. Quite a few of us asked MS point-blank to be honest so we could make decisions before we invested in the new way of doing things.
>

What is new is that you are finally getting clear and honest communications from MS. Don't put too much on Jeff's shoulders. Sure, he is partly to blame, but don't forget that you had Jon Sigler at MS who did little to nothing to quell the issue.


>
The fact is that MS has been very clear about this. Way back then they declared that VFP was in "maintenance" mode
<

When did MS and the Fox Team make this pronouncement? I challenge you to dig this up...Maintenance mode means no new releases. VB 6 is in maint. mode.

<
and that advertising and attention would focus on MS's preferred direction- VB at that time.
<

This much is true in that VB was the preferred tool. Right there, that should have sent up a signal flair.

<<
Few of us realised this would mean almost no marketing at all, or circular "we only market if people are already buying" absurdities, but most of us are resigned to that by now.
<<

I was one of the few John. If you don't plan on expanding your customer base, there is little to no need to market. If you are justing getting resigned to it now, where have you been the past 6 years??? Or, do you need reminding who in this community asked BG a question about this very issue????


>
>Since then various "prophets" have "discovered" the above and announced it as a revelation.
>

Excuse me.... check the record and you will see that I have been saying this for quite some time....


>
I agree with your response, if you deal direct with clients who trust you, you can use whatever tool you choose.
<

What if you need to leave your client with a solution that he will need to find talent for in the future. In good conscience, I have a difficult time selling people on VFP-based solutions for this one reason.

>
Others (such as contractors) have to respond to the market... but they've had seven years to react appropriately to MS's placement of VFP. This isn't a sudden crisis.
>

Its not sudden to those who have listened. But I do think there are a great many who have held out a candle in denial of what has been going on...IMO, everybody has to respond to the market.

And FWIW, I don't claim to be a prophet. Rather, I simply look at the facts, assimilate them to arrive at a reasonable conclusion.