>My main point here is that in enriching the software and building more
>flexibility, the quality of the dialog with the users is really quite
>important.

The fact that you are available to the end user is a wonderful thing 
and a selling point. Some software has NO support other than a FAQ at 
the website. Some companies charge for support.

>This is where it seems to me, in the past couple of years, a tendency
>has grown to consider that small software developers like me, who do it
>on the side of their real job, cannot possibly offer the same level of
>quality as the big companies like Finale or Sibelius can, with their
>full-time large teams of bright ivy-league graduate programmers.

You are doing just fine by comparison, I think. <rant> I've heard 
Finale has gotten better, but IMHO Finale is a model of frustration. 
The most un-intuitive software I've ever used. I have to look up even 
the simplest tasks in one of the four manuals. You can't even drag a 
note. </rant>

>Make no mistake, even when you are paying for a registration for either
>Django or Fronimo, you are still paying a highly qualified person for
>well under a nickel an hour.

A lot like being a musician, when you count the hours of practice and 
preparation.

>Well, there is another thing that keeps my going: playing with the
>software to create some really bad music...  You can check my latest
>example of this at
>http://cbsr26.ucr.edu/wlkfiles/Publications/Prelude/Prelude_orch.html -
>A prelude for archlute, bandoneon, cello, bass and tinkle bells...

I don't know if there is such a thing as bad music. I thought it was 
delightful piece, especially nice harmonies. What is a bandoneon?
-- 
Ed Durbrow
Saitama, Japan
http://www9.plala.or.jp/edurbrow/



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