I think the better question is, "why are we considering asking for codecs (and I might add that he NEVER specified whether they were for VideoLan, Mplayer, MPC, or something else entirely) as asking for help with a Microsoft product?" I mean, if we're considering that as asking for help with Windows, then what it seems like we're saying is that we can't be asked to bother providing links to Apache and FileZilla and the like for those who would otherwise be relegated to using IIS and its ilk on Windows.
I believe I've made this point before: if we can't or won't provide FOSS alternatives (or even just free, for that matter) to Microsoft products on Microsoft's own platform, we're no better than a merry band of hypocrites, as we've successfully handed them a victory at home.
Anyway, with all due respect Calum, since when were *you* the expert on what constitutes help with a Microsoft product? The last time I checked, the rule was meant to not supplement Microsoft's dominance, not to deny assistance with a matter that's wholly exclusive of the operating system. That's completely detrimental to our own cause.