Scy - good to see you in these parts. It'd be great if you could find the time to visit from time to time. The poor old board really needs some support.

Hope the budgies are behaving, and I look forward to a couple of links...

I don't stay depressed for long. I just wish I had the moral courage (and energy) to kick up a bit of a fuss, though.

Hi, anti - yes, thanks for that - your points are well taken. I just fear that we're giving up too easily. The old chestnut, "But it's the industry standard" probably doesn't really excuse our apathy, sadly.

I'm not convinced that a huge amount of expertise or knowledge is necessary. I really am tired of people referring (in all innocence) to a "Word document" or "an Excel spreadsheet" when suggesting someone produce a document or spreadsheet, much as I understand the reasons.

It's nice to be an idealist, but in ethics vs Big Business, I fear we're far***g against thunder, as they say. Still, I really don't see why Apple/Microsoft/etc etc should be entitled to little chunks of our souls, and will continue to make the occasional indignant noise.