Here is the problem with your scenario -- all of the entities you cite in your piece rely on advertising to support their business models. Apple does not. And for the love of God I HOPE THEY NEVER DO!!! I would pay $200 a year for .Mac -- because of its ease of use alone. The tired arguments you use apply only to the 1/10 of one-percent of users that call themselves "Geeks". Normal people want simple, usable and elegant services and .Mac offers that --
Please -- can we talk about something else now. If you do not like .Mac then do not pay for it...please allow the rest of us to "waste" our money as we see fit!
.Mac Needs to Be Radically Retooled