(...)
However, the change to XML can be the downfall for the never-ending upgrade-cycle forced upon Office-users, as small tools on the net will make back-conversions....
The second assault will come from OSS projects, which now will have a clean view into the formats, and should be able to reproduce Office documents much better than is currently the case. UNFORTUNATELY, I think (hope not) some tags will contain crucial data in some arcaic binary format, only useful to COM services in the OS.
OTOH, they could choose to go the opposite way: have leased/rented applications, that are updated continuously, and make the formats evolve so fast that OSS projects and competing commercial projects cannot follow them.
You would find a "Dialog Box" saying: "The document you have just received has a new feature that requires you tu update your Office copy to enhance your user experience. Notice that you could be missing important features from the document if you don't do it. Proceed? [Now] [Later]"
They could earn money just by selling the specification documents at standard paper prices (you would need to actually "subscribe to the spec") ;-)
Long live the XML revolution.
Niclas
