Yes, the Chinese govt. are control freaks, but I don't hate them. Although yes, China is still very Stalinist, they are (admittedly slowly) reforming. They are opening up, at least moving in the right direction. Unlike the USA, which is getting more and more totalitarian every day. Not government totalitarianism, but business totalitarianism. The Chinese will not allow themselves to be bullied by big business. And that at least is somthing to respect. So lets not bash China, they are a great people, and they have a great country. Like all nations, they are not perfect, they have their problems.
Every day both Europe and China are getting stronger. USA is stagnating, and Japan is going to hell. And even though Palladium may very well take off in the USA, it dosn't have a snowballs chance in hell in the EU, China, or in several South American nations, and many many more. Places where big business dosn't control the governmant 100%. So M$ alternatives will always be present.
V