Comment Open API is only fine if it's an open standard (Score 4, Insightful) 163
IMAP is an open API - truly open, because it's a standard and multiple people support it. RSS is an open API - because I can use an RSS reader with anyone I like.
If an API is only supported by one site then it's still lock-in, and if they change it (or close down, or raise their rates) then you're still fucked.