>>>Give the consumer the option. GM doesn't tell me where I can or cannot drive my car.
>>
>>But GM doesn't own your car.. you do. In the case of VFP, Microsoft owns the software. You only purchase the right to use it, and MS can stipulate what those rights are.
>
>On the other hand, Craig, if I take my Caprice Classic off-road and do some serious damage, they don't (CAN'T) stop me and the best they can do is to tell me that none of the damages incurred will be covered by the warranty.
>
>Why doesn't the same apply to running any Windows product under Linux?
>
>Seems to me that there is simply common-sense eligibility to USE a product any way I choose, some of which may be amenable to the vendor/licensor and some of which may not be. If I choose to use VFP7 as a frisbee, that's seems to be my business, not MS' unless I then ask for a replacement CD.

Good point, but GM doesn't collect toll charges on bridges or own the roads either, whereas MS owns operating systems.