I have been a very active simmer since the birth of the home PC. I have owned a copy of every version of MSFS since v1. Thus, I do not see this as a major setback to the hobby. MSFS has matured for the better with every version thru FS2004. FSX seems to be taking hold slowly, but like VISTA it was released to quickly and with many unresolved problems.
Throughout the years I have been amazed to see the number of people who have entered the MSFS community and by way of their own individual talents have created some amazing add-ons for all of us to freely utilize. Payware and the wholesale commercialization of MSFS add-ons did not really become a huge deal until FS2002 and has exploded since then.
This brings me to make an important point, at least in my humble opinion, that in most cases freeware is tremendously better that payware in almost all categories. The people who add software, scenery, aircraft, and utilities to MSFS for free do so out of a pure sense of enjoyment of the hobby and a willingness to share their creations with others. In many cases payware is strictly "dollar driven" and often performs/appears less than advertised.
In closing, I do not see MS decision to stop development as the death of the hobby. Rather, a chance for all of us in the FS community to come together and continue to enhance and improve what MS has provided us to date. I truly feel that much of MS decision on this issue was business driven due to the current economic crisis and these decisions have funny ways of changing with time and patience. So lets all hang in here together, enjoy the ride, and see just how far we as a community can push what we have been fortunate enough to receive thus far in MSFS.
