(Disclosure: I interned at MSR over the summer. These are my personal opinions.) Note that MSR is a basic research organization, not a so-called "R&D" unit. MS

(Disclosure: I interned at MSR over the summer. These are my personal opinions.) Note that MSR is a basic research organization, not a so-called "R&D" unit. MSR is largely focused on academic research -- there seems to be an implicit mandate that 99% of MS research output will "fail" and not be productized. For instance, I can't imagine a Visual Haskell Professional coming out in the next ten years -- or ever, really. However, there's definitely a huge value in academic research qua academic research, particularly in CS theory. MSR has algorithms, crypto/applied math and software engineering research groups that do top-notch academic work, and it would be a great loss to the CS world were any of them shut down just because they don't productize enough. An ancillary benefit of MSR is that it improves Microsoft's reputation in the traditionally pro-Linux academic world.