DaveP wrote:
They are "desirable" features - but nice to haves - not essentials.
Let me disagree on this point: a component model and high level APIs are crucial to foster development on a platform. We're in 2003, we don't want to reinvent the wheel once again, do we? If someone creates a component and releases it in the public domain, I may be able to integrate it in my application at little to zero cost.
COM/ActiveX may give you a clear example: leaving the beauty of the Windows COM implementation aside, the productivity of the Windows developer is much higher thanks to components. If I have to use a professional grid in my app, I'd use FlexGrid rather than develop my own...