Well, apparently MS killed Java on the client:
http://java.sys-con.com/read/37121.htm
So yes, they could make life difficult for AJAX developers.
http://java.sys-con.com/read/37121.htm
So yes, they could make life difficult for AJAX developers.
Their incentive is to maintain their market share. IE7 is their attempt to get their ass in gear for precisely that reason. The market's not going to stick around and wait for IE and the web will progress whether MSFT wants it to or not.