PHP and ruby are simpler and easier to use for non-enterprise webapps (particularly with RoR, and Sinatra being simpler again). Like JSON being favoured for si

PHP and ruby are simpler and easier to use for non-enterprise webapps (particularly with RoR, and Sinatra being simpler again). Like JSON being favoured for simpler uses where XML is not required (it lacks schema, references and namespaces). The usual trajectory is for technology to improve. PHP and ruby and JSON are becoming better at meeting the needs of their specific users. It's harder for a highly sophisticated technology, like .NET, to become simpler (though they've been much better at this than Java).