Microsoft: Thank You For Asking For Our Advice!
To counter Frans Bouma's perspective on Microsoft's employees using the weblogging medium to ask for the community's feeback, I'd just like to say I love it. I think it's the greatest thing that can happen for all of us. Why? Well, like it or not (I happen to like it), most of us leverage Microsoft's technologies on a day to day basis to make our businesses work. Even if you don't work with Microsoft technologies in your shop, you're likely to need to integrate with shops that do. Therefore if we can provide feedback that will help shape a technology that we'll have to use for the next ten years to make it easier for us to work with, then that's an awesome opportunity to be presented with.
The important thing to realize here is, you don't have to participate in this feedback process. Nobody's forcing anyone to speak their mind or hand over an algorithm. Why is this any different than me asking for help for something that's going to help me with my company? I mean, we know why, it's Microsoft and they're evil, but seriously... step back and think about the situation more objectively. Also, if you think you've got what it takes to work at Microsoft and would like to contribute in a more concrete way to one of these projects, just send them your resumé! I'm pretty sure they're always looking to hire great minds.
Finally, I hope it's clear that I don't entirely disagree with Frans. It would make very little sense for someone who is working on a competing technology to offer their feedback on Microsoft's version. That said, I don't think Microsoft expects someone like Gerald Bauer, of XUL fame, to offer guidance on Avalon technology. If anything, they should expect pushback (and lots of it). However, even that should challenge them to think differently about their choices.