RE: [xml-dev] Why Standards?

["Michael Kay" <michael.h.kay@ntlworld.com>]

> Rhetorical gaffes aside, there is a point lurking underneath 
> the surface: de facto vs. de jure standards.  A goodly 
> portion of the internet was built on de facto standards, 
> *not* de jure standards dictated by standards bodies.  

De facto standards have a habit of being cheap and dirty, while de jure
standards have a habit of being expensive and clean. Of course we all
want standards that are cheap and clean. So how do we get them? Or do we
just put up with the mess?

Michael Kay