>Well, you added a lot to your comments on the program after these, but I'll just jump in here. I too sometimes wonder about the MVP program. It seems that the community has a love-hate relationship with MS. And it also seems that you're not going to be an MVP if you show the hate side. Of course, the MVPs could love MS totally and have no bad feelings towards them (then they'd be honest, at least, but not objective, IMHO). I love VFP, but I'm not in love with everything MS does, even with Ken Levy at the VFP helm (some things he can't control, I realize). But I'd like to know of examples of MVPs who criticize MS. I realize that MS is not going to pick anyone that only criticizes them, but I also feel that part of the deal is that you can't be critical (even when it is deserved). As much as I value the contribution of some of these MVPs, that's one aspect of the program that I don't like.
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Russell,

I've been an MVP since 1999. In that period I've never once been told by Microsoft that I shouldn't be critical of them. I've also, more than once, offered up, what I considered the shortcomings of VFP and MS in general. I've also seen other MVPs accused of being "in Microsoft's pocket", when all they have done is expressed an opinion favoring MS.

What this post does, however, is question the integrity of the individuals who are MVPs. Where I come from (the Southside of Chicago) questioning somebody's integrity is a place you don't go.