That's a lot to think about, but here's a simple response:
There is no one car manufacturer that can control the radio industry and the roads. If GM owned the roads and the radio stations, then you'd see abuse there also. All cars drive on all roads, and that's why car companies cannot lock users into their products, because its easy to move to a competitor's product.
It is not easy to move to a competitor's web browser if you are given Windows 98. In fact, Microsoft will tell you it isn't even possible with Windows 98. After all, the web browser in Windows 98 is an integral part of the OS. The OS doesn't function without it.
And if you control the web browser, then you eventually will control the road. No one will argue with that. Look at how Yahoo!'s stock has been flying. Everyone wants to control the "portal", whether its the browser, the search engine, etc.
People very badly want to try and own the toll road of the future. The rewards are obvious: If you want users to flock to your content, well, you gotta pay me first, one way or another.
Mike
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