I did have a feeling i would get a reply similar to this. When I wrote this is did think about the online resources, but then i thought that those resources are available for both products, and are therefore not really that great from a compare/contrast perspective

I agree you have a very long wait if you opt for the call Microsoft option ... not to say New Groups respond at the speed of a synapse (or that you will even get an answer .. anyone have that unaswered posts on Perlmonks stat handy (it's lower than one would expect, because this place rocks ... but it is not 0) ?). I have never called Microsoft, and never plan to.

Some (sadistic) people like the idea that no matter how long they waited on hold, they have someone paid to listen to them complain and who will attempt (even if feebly) to help. I think perlmonks is the best resource for these things ... but i understand that some people would rather make a tech support person squirm on the phone now, then wait patiently, thus it would be a pro in some places.