[msl09]

To answer the question in the title, I don't think that Microsoft is even remotely trying to commit suicide. I think they realized that they are so freaking huge that they can nuke the equivalent of an entire year of revenue and still be in no danger.

So they can just try stupid shit left and right and see what happens, if they get lambasted for it, it's no big loss. If it works they will be genius visionaries, stock prices go up, investors are happy.

It doesn't please me but, it is what it is.