rcf (no@thanks.net) on 2/19/08 wrote:
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>Howard Chu (hyc@symas.com) on 2/18/08 wrote:
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>>nick (no@mail.com) on 2/17/08 wrote:
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>>>But seriously, it is quite obvious that there is supply and demand at work, and
>>>you simply can't just brush that under the carpet without telling us how you plan
>>>to switch the world to controlled economies.

>>Funny you should mention that. I was thinking a good way to start would be to outlaw marketing.

>That's not a funny mention, that's THE question in this case. If you want to have
>ONLY "excellent" programmers then you will have to surrender most of your freedom
>of choice and live in a controlled economy. Education only goes so far.

I don't think that means surrendering freedom of choice. I think we've had far less choice throughout most of the 90s with Microsoft dominating the market, and that we're slowly beginning to get more choices recognized. The slowness is because it takes a long time for newer, quality alternatives to get seen/heard when they're otherwise drowned out by the marketing hype of larger corporations. If you could silence the noise, and just see each available product on its raw merits, I think you'd have far more freedom of choice. And if "excellent" programmers consistently produce excellent products, those products are going to get chosen more frequently, and anyone else will lose incentive to stay in the field.