I certainly have a hard time swallowing that MS would do something as STUPID as is alleged here. They would cut off their own legs. I for one would not touch their new system, and would stick with Win2K, WinXP and Linux. Bye-bye and new MS creation.
No, just cannot buy it. MS's wealth is dependent upon selling operating systems. If their arrogance has gone this far, their stock value will show it immediately upon release...
I'm not buying this "commentary" either. MS is not dumb. They didn't get to be the largest by abusing customers or producing a product that no one wants.
Microsoft specializes in doing stupid things. Hell, even Steve Ballmer can't go two weeks without sticking his foot in his mouth and echoing it internationally.
Besides, if you think that Microsoft won't sell its soul to make a buck, just check out what they did to accommodate the Communist Chinese government.