I see this as just another side-effect of letting a marketing guy (Balmer) take the helm instead of a developer (Gates). As soon as visual studio became segmented into different versions it no longer represented a product designed to increase developer adoption of Windows. Instead, it became a potential profit center. A short-term financial gain at the long-term expense of Windows applications and market share.

Companies that are willing to take long term risks are not valued in a world of high frequency trading. Balmer is hoping that by force feeding Windows 8 Metro apps down developer throats he will convince Wall Street that Microsoft isn't dead yet.