There's no guarantee that CP/M would have maintained its lead. It could have been the case that MSFT didn't just curl up and die but fight and regain the monop

There's no guarantee that CP/M would have maintained its lead. It could have been the case that MSFT didn't just curl up and die but fight and regain the monopoly. Say what you want about Microsoft, but Gates and Ballmer were/are smart and even smarter with business.