You make an interesting point petard and got me thinking outside the box...

Back in the Dos days with Windows 3.1, I needed to shut down windows to play the best dos games that took advantage of video cards using VESA. they really could not run on windows 3.1. So what I am getting at is the bigger picture may in fact be Microsoft throwing out the old Dos ways(32 bit) and getting everyone to move to a new direction(64-bit) filled with unseen products and next generation system technology that would not be possible under the old model as we know it was with this xp/vista 32 bit era. the 64bit era is expected to bring visuals and computing powerhouse technology to the mases.... However, companies need a boost or a better reason to write 64 bit drivers and code and if you think about... what better way to make companies join the next phase in computing by changing the underlining ways the computer computes. This should force all companies that rely on Windows users to buy their products to rethink and reshape their old current technology so that they will follow the new model and move ahead to the new 64 bit way since it will be more powerful. Microsoft removing hardware acceleration from Directx will change the OS creating much needed stability. There will be much more options in a software only model and with the bandwagon now realizing it is time to go to 64bit operations, I feel that we will notice zero difference than we had with hardware mode. Meaning that the new 64 bit sound cards and video cards under the new model may be truly the must have products that will do things we only dreamed we could do with our now hardware only accelerated products....