Chris

I'd have to agree with you that MS *has* been clear for years that they have a strategic direction. VFP has dangled variably off to the side, sometimes tantalisingly close to the approved direction, other times further away.

I also agree that we are not going to change MS's behaviour significantly by repeatedly picking the tops off old wounds. MS *could* do certain stuff to help us without necessarily opposing their declared direction, however some very determined people have pressed on this over the years and fallen back exhausted.

We have other problems that might be easier to tackle. One of them is that our "community" is not a vast powerhouse. Recently published figures suggest that of a FP user base of 200,000, those who participate in online forums etc- "the community"- comprise just 0.15% of the user base. In my business if an 0.15% influence demanded I spend money or otherwise change my course, I'm not sure I'd be jumping. A 10% influence? Possibly.

IMHO people would do well to consider whether/how we might efficiently expend energy to improve our lot. "Bashing heads on a brick wall" as you aptly put it, is not the only option. Is there another pressure point it might be more efficient to address?

Regards

JR