Discussion on:

Looking forward to the Windows Store

But I can see them wanting to control the tablet experience on cheaper hardware if they're subsidizing the devices with Store purchases so there may always be a limited experience on certain Microsoft powered hardware. I think it all really depends on how well the RT version performs. If it does well, Microsoft may consider opening up the platform as they may just be testing the waters.

The Windows Store is geared toward monetized commercial applications, but what about in-house applications? This model seems to ignore that area of development altogether. Almost all of my development is for in-house applications that have no need to be filtered through some app store. This model also will cause a huge bottleneck in releasing bug fixes which I can do now instantaneously with no intervention from some gatekeeper authority. Not every application is a commercial one sold to consumers and Microsoft needs to accommodate that model of software development and delivery.

On another note, your claim that since Apple already has this model that it's okay is not a good argument for it. Microsoft could have set itself apart by not adopting this model but they are doing it for purely monetary reasons not for security. It's a way they can take a cut of every program written for Windows 8 without having to do very much. I don't know of any other product that once you buy it that you can't add on to it without having to pay the original manufacturer a kickback for that privilege. It's simply a way that software/hardware companies can now derive a lot of revenue without having to actually produce anything like they used to.