Not surprising that it's more effective than calling a phone support line that's typically at least two layers of outsourcing away from the company that you're

Not surprising that it's more effective than calling a phone support line that's typically at least two layers of outsourcing away from the company that you're trying to contact - and usually to some sort of high-churn, low-trained call center sweatshop[1]. The only thing less effective would possibly be trying to get help from a Microsoft/MSDN forum - "See this completely unrelated KB article for another product that doesn't work. Closed as resolved." [1] I write some software that gets used in call-centers... It's exactly as much fun dealing with them as your customers as when you are their customer.