Let me throw out some food for thought:
In this article:
http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,4149,1310572,00.asp
Microsoft is changing IE to not use embeded plugins like Flash, etc due to Eolas Patent.
With a $531M judgement, you would think they would just buy the patent out and move on...
But what if, they remove the plugin ability to comply with the court judgement, then bought the patent, and then CHARGED all plugin makers a license to work within IE.
Think about it conspiracy heads, IE has market dominance as the #1 browser being used (stats to my website show like 97% use IE).
Netscape is out of the picture, Opera is a novelty, and unix and Mac users just don't have the numbers....
So M$ can now make money off of a free product by charging the plugin makers...rather than charging the consumers like Netscape tried to do.
I am sure the DOJ would have a field day with this one, if this conspiracy true proved to be true...
Other than that, the Eolas patent issue on plugins in a browser is very damaging to the web.. if M$ is just going to remove that function, then the web has taken a step backwards.
External programs can still be triggered (ie. media player, etc).. but i believe there is a patent out there for the triggering of an external program from another program........ UGGGGGGG.....
Fight the Patent!