I currently work on an iSeries, while there is some vendor lock we have run unix programs through PASE, we run a full suite of web enabled applications some of

I currently work on an iSeries, while there is some vendor lock we have run unix programs through PASE, we run a full suite of web enabled applications some of which reuse code that has been around forever. Even RPG has gone modern with fully free form code, procedures, embedded sql, and with ILE the ability to be bound with modules written in any other supported language. The deployed base is very large and across a great many industries because of resilience, ease of programming, minimal support staff required, and simply because with most big systems it just works. Its not flawless but db2 is far easier to manage than oracle and the iSeries we have operate with much smaller staffs than the AIX/Oracle setups. Overall the biggest failing is IBM's lack of direction. They tend to push systems which generate the biggest kickback and such, usually meaning their AIX fare. No matter how many times efforts were put in place to move off the i or even z it just came down to, it works, its modern, and for businesses having something you know is many times better than going with the newest thing.