When I go over the tools that I use for software development, it's not actually true (as a friend recently accused) that "if it isn't produced by Microsoft, Jacob won't use it." Still, while I don't hesitate to use tools not produced by Microsoft, there's no denying that the majority of what I use day-to-day has its origins in Redmond, Washington. The question Microsoft's detractors need to be asking themselves is why that might be the case.
It's Not the Hot and Cold Running Babes
Because here's the cold, hard truth: there's not a thing in it for me to continue using Microsoft products, let alone defending my use of those products, besides the utility of the products themselves. Indeed, as one with geek pretensions, there's a good deal of downside for me in admitting that I use Microsoft tools and like it. Like admitting I read romance novels among the English Lit crowd, it tends to produce one of those uncomfortable silences.
Microsoft isn't cool. It's strictly squaresville. Entire geek cultures have sprung up around hatred of Microsoft and in some circles mentioning the name isn't dissimilar to mentioning a certain Scottish play in the presence of Blackadder's thespians.
I suppose that I could cave to peer pressure and use the tools all the cool kids are talking about, but I've never cared that much about the opinion of others and I don't see the point in starting now. Particularly when Microsoft's software makes it so darned easy to do my job.
Bottom Line
Like any geek, I consider myself a rational person. I go out of my way to hear counter arguments to my current theories and I always try out new technologies when given a chance. My problem is the lack of seriousness in those taking Microsoft products on. I get more people trying to get me to feel stupid for using Microsoft than trying to convince me that something else is better.
Since I have a pretty high tolerance for feeling stupid, I'll keep using Microsoft products until someone bothers producing actual reasons for alternatives. Anybody taking on that job ought to at least attempt to understand why someone would use Microsoft in the first place and use that as a starting point. Appeals to authority, ad hominem attacks, reductio ad absurdum and other rhetorical tricks aren't going to play well in that endeavor.