I don't like the "technologies are just tools, sometimes you need one, sometimes you need another, blah blah blah" line of reasoning.<p>Sure, it makes a certain amount of sense, and it sounds all nice and reasonable. But that's just not the way it is. Technologies a ARE better or worse than eachother, and the choice of which to use does have technological, social and business ramifications.<p>The situation is actually more analogous to arguments of whether to use domestic or foreign oil, or discussions about the merits of trade unions. The options are not just handily available to pick off my workbench. They will shape the way things are done in years to come.