With the way IE 7 is looking, I’ll be very happy once this is rolled out to the general public (and roll-out, as a Windows/Microsoft Update, is how it should be released – as a separate download, the average person just isn’t going to get it).

That’s really what I’m trying to get at, give MS and the IE team a chance to show us proof.

They have definately started, and so long as development continues (that doesn’t subvert or subsume the standards) that’s a good thing.

If you have a look through the comments on the IE blog or Chris Wilson’s blog (there are some ‘cite’ attributes on the quotes, I haven’t gotten around to higlighting those yet), you’ll see what I mean about people harping on about historical things that are already changed or changing.

I’m also not sure what ‘the following’ is at the end of your intro (“The following is why people should back off, for now.”). Reading through this, it seems we should back-off simply because of the last paragraph/quote: “I will continue to improve standards support and compliance in IE, and make the web better. That’s my job, my charter, my vision, and my passion. The day it isn’t, I’ll quit.”

That said, I suppose I was guilty of bashing IE, before the 7 betas/RC. As long as pre-IE 7 is in use, I’ll continue to recommend people upgrade to an acceptable browser (just like I’ll recommend to NS 4.x … users to upgrade to an acceptable browser.

So, in that I think IE 7 is a pretty darn good browser, I’m on your side. But, I’m not sure that you’re presenting a good argument above as to why people should stop bashing IE. Words are words, and on the Web, they mean little to nothing without proof.