Re: "Across the free software world we have a problem in getting people to pay for things"
How many businesses have actually seriously considered LibreOffice? A few in Germany. If I owned a SME; I'd have no worries about chucking Libre a support contract over the hopeless support and enforced pricing of MS.
As a drone in a megacorp, MS does have it's appeal to a certain extent for they do listen to megacorps. As a general user though, you're on your own - self help forums being the next best. E.g. the excellent Mr Excel, or others.
Biting the hand that feeds IT
