Prediction: It will get MUCH worse before (IF) it gets any better. The way things are going, M$ or some other 'biggie' will soon be inserting clauses in their EULAs giving THEM exclusive full rights to anything YOU create,and giving you NONE. Wait till M$'s new "Longhorn" OS is introduced in '05 and you have to pay monthly in order to use the OS and will have to accept 'automatic' login to M$ EVERY time you boot up for "authorization" to open the OS, or be cut off from all your own files. (Betcha those monthly fees will be 'ever-increaing' too.)