Sure, I agree with that. I think it's a coordination mechanism, and it tends to make language progress more conservative. I don't know if/when it's a net win, a

Sure, I agree with that. I think it's a coordination mechanism, and it tends to make language progress more conservative. I don't know if/when it's a net win, and I certainly wouldn't expect (or want) D or Python or Ruby to do it -- I think they do a better job of managing their own growth and development. I do think it's a bit crazy to say that it can increase uncertainty about future compatibility, though -- on that front I think it standardisation has a strictly stabilising effect.