Gordon,
I think that your comparison of VFP to VB development timeframes is misguided.

Here's what I say:

Give me a good developer and they can create applications in a timely and quality fashion.

Are there some things easier in VFP than VB absolutely. Are there there some things easier in VB than VFP this is true as well.

I have built numerous apps in VFP and VB and find that the majority of time in development is spent finding out what the customer wants.

My point is that developers can be productive in any tool.