twitter's Journal: Software Assurance is now a Deal You Can't Refuse?

Amid renewals of less than 11%, Channel insider reports new Vista licensing terms that will force Software Assurance:

In a dramatic departure from the past, Software Assurance or Enterprise Agreement is required to buy the main business version of Windows Vista and to obtain vital desktop deployment tools. ... Office 2007 imposes similar licensing changes, but there is a difference: Many businesses already buy Office through volume licensing. By contrast, most businesses buy Windows on new PCs.

The major benefit goes to Microsoft rather than customers or even the channel. The company is willing to supplant customer choice for the benefit of its balance sheet.

What are they thinking? Everyone but the infamous Laura Didiot thinks that Software Assurance has been a huge rip off that allows M$ to collect money without releasing software. Vista itself is in trouble and companies that could have it already are ditching SA instead. How is this move going to do anything but drive more people to the exits?