Actually, my first job out of college was on an AI project written in x86 assembly. So I do know what you mean. But I don't program in asm anymore, so it doesn't affect me. If I write a line of code anymore it would be C# or at the very least C++.

I mean, sure, looking at the x86 platform from the hardware engineer or low level software guy, sure it's a pain in the butt. But I am not one of these guys. I don't care about the difficulties they had to go through to make it work. As long as it ultimately works, I am good with it.

I am sorry for not taking the geek approach on it, but I am over that part of geekiness. There was a time that I had 12 OSes on a single PC. There was a time when SGI loaned me that $20,000 IRIX machine for 2 months and I would geek out with it until 4 AM.

But I've had it. If it doesn't work as I expect it, *as a Joe User*, I don't bother with it. That's how 99% of the computer/mobile users are too. I decided to go with the flow because I grew older, and my patience was wearing thin. This is why I don't like platforms that add more work and complicate my daily life *as a user*. This is why I dislike compatibilities problems, because they are added work.

BTW, I am fully aware that "user easiness" means "engineer difficulty". For something to stay compatible it requires extra engineering effort. But you know, I am not really interested in hearing out these difficulties, cause users don't care (I know my electrician brother doesn't, or my house builder father). You see, the darn thing cost $400. This "extra work" that the engineers did, should be included in that price. And if not, add an extra $30 to the price. I much rather PAY beforehand a few extra dollars for extra engineering rather than pay later with my time and my sanity cursing on the thing.

Again, I don't mind breaking compatibility between their first try and the second, or after lots of years, but breaking again on the second and third try within a year, I found that way too much, and I truly believe it hurt their business. When I first heard that they will break compatibility again, I was really sad about it because I had high hopes for their success in a more broad consumer market.