> I was only objecting to your use of the word "standard", not arguing
> the technical points.
>
> However, many people (me included) claim that true standard-compliant
> software is inherently better, simply because is it more reusable, and
> more easily understood. That is what allowed the World Wide Web; the
> existence of public standards.

You have just negated your own argument.  The World Wide Web is not based on
public standards but rather recommendations and specifications from the
World Wide Web Consortium (W3C).  The W3C is made up of a membership that is
comprised (largely) of corporations.  By your narrow interpretation of what
qualifies as a standard the Web must not be very reusable.  :^{)

Phil Johnson