I think it would still be irritating, but significantly less so. When a company buys another out and continues using a piece of software's name, they're doing s

I think it would still be irritating, but significantly less so. When a company buys another out and continues using a piece of software's name, they're doing so because that brand has built up some level of awareness and goodwill with the market. That awareness and goodwill is directly the result of its existing, satisfied customers. Alienating those satisfied customers while still cashing in on the reputation they built for you violates not only a basic sense of fairness, but probably in this case contractual obligations. On the other hand, if you strip the existing software for parts, and put out something substantially different under new branding, at least you're giving something up.