I do not disagree with this article, but I think there are many other reasons why Microsoft is being nice. 1) Reputation. It is harder for Microsoft to attract talented programmers and “elite” users if they are viewed as some kind of Mordor. 2) Hurting competitors. Microsoft was no fan of freeware, but they made IE free (as in beer) for obvious reasons. 3) Helping the PC. Microsoft’s success is connected to the success of the personal computer. If more people switch to tablets or to the cloud, Microsoft suffers.