So a single malware program indirectly targets the new MS Anti-Spyware tool by disabling it. This is a basic evasion technique that various viruses have used over the years (targeting one AV program or another).

The attack itself is nothing new - the only novelty is the choice of software the trojan tries to evade. It doesn't even directly target the MS Anti-Spyware tool - it merely disables it to avoid detection.

Uninstalling the Anti-Spyware tool just because one piece of malware indirectly targets it to avoid detection seems a very rash decision.

By that logic, Windows should have been dumped years ago in favor of a Unix-type operating system due to the rampant (and ongoing) virus issues with Windows.

Or were there other issues with the program, and the news of the trojan was simply the last straw?