I've always thought one big reason LL has focused on bringing in new customers is that they understand the semi-secret that for most people SL has a user arc stretching from unfamiliar to obsessed to jaded to gone which generally takes place over a few years. They know it because they have experienced it themselves. It isn't the same for everyone because rl options aren't the same for everyone, and some are driven more by money than others, but it's true for about 95% of customers, I think.

People who arrived at X time think other X arrivals are awesome because they are obsessed at the same time. Customers who arrived earlier might well be in the jaded phase by that time.

It isn't a surprise that the CEO reins seem to have been given to BK as that was bruited about from the very moment M disappeared. Too, the Philip 2.0 contest having been dragged out made me feel like *maybe* he was shifting towards the door. It does surprise me, though, that when he returned V2.0 was reportedly a surprise to him.

Most people think M was the corporate scapegoat for the Linden Apocalypse, which has always seemed plausible as that's how things are done in order to keep clean hands, and although that was shocking and horrible I suppose if it was that or go under I'd rather the former than the latter. Of course, from the very M-beginning old Oracle employees were saying, "Say goodbye to all the overseas offices as that's the way M works," which came to pass. I dunno.

*stands in the temple and watches the flight of birds*

There's just no predicting. I think I'll go and examine the entrails of a goat now.