Anyway, Microsoft does not stand to gain from full standards support. It must now catch up even to the level of competing free browsers. I suppose if MS did a better implementation of standards than anybody else, it could be a selling point.

I trust that, at this stage of the game, I don’t have to explain why Web standards are important, particularly to many users with disabilities.

I like your side-by-side comment layout, BTW.

1. No more pop-ups. So, kind of security, but really removal of annoyance.

2. Tabbed browsing. No more explosion of windows every time you want to view multiple web pages.

The limiting factor was the extent to which firefox could render web pages. So, one might argue that compliance was the limiting factor.

My guess would be that IE’s move to standards compliance would be a boon to users because it would allow easier switching. Microsoft will find compliance a necessity if firefox spreads enough forcing more standards compliance.