Exactly, I think this point is well made!

VFP 8 is supported through 2009. With VFP9 on the way we have many more years of using this productive tool before 64 bit OS and or other changes in the computing world have a serious impact on us. By then ALL the rules will have changed and even .NET may be gone. After all MSFT as a company isn't about technology, it's about money and one way to keep it rolling in is always push something new and try to force change. This keeps IT people chasing the latest "stuff", fuels conversations like this one and casts doubt on the "safety" of embracing competitive FREE technology like MYSQL etc. as they may be soon outdated.

MSFT is like a stock broker, Your stock may go up and it may go down but the broker makes money each time you move your money and make a trade. Granted if we never changed we would all still be programming for DOS or CPM. Sometime change is good, but like that OLDMOBILE, if it still runs, keep driving it until the wheels fall off. By then cars themselves may be obsolete ;)