Yes, neither am I. I would say that behind the scenes of a larger and successful open source project always stand a lot of interested companies.

Indeed, it is a collaboration software. The problem was that Google targeted it to wrong audience. I mean they tried to make a very tough social network out of it. But in fact, it'd be more recognized as a collaboration software for the companies, professional groups, etc. Wave is useless without a purpose.

This is the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard. I know people who use VIM + command line, and make more money than those who use expensive tools. If by "often" you mean ASP.NET devs, then I have to disappoint you, they have average salaries. Not always. But often.

I wonder what would MS do with Sun...