-snip-

>> AFAIK, the VFP MVP list shrunk for the first time in years this time.

That's marginally accurate if at all. I may be off by one or two, but the numbers stayed pretty much the same. From memory there was 45 VFP MVP's last year and Ken stated in this thread there's about 44 current.

But I see what you are saying and I agree. It seems there's no "coasting on your laurels" now as it was in certain cases in the past.