1) The low level thing MS has is DirectX 12. I saw some benchmarks across multiple graphics cards that showed it was slower than Vulkan, but I can't seem to find it now... so its unclear to me if it is or isn't slower.
2) I think the people here would rather it be developed by an independent group like Khronos Group. For example, Apple created OpenCL as an open standard too and then abandoned it.
On one, ok. I haven't followed DirectX too closely. I knew 12 was designed to match modern GPUs much closer but I didn't know if that was sort of 'medium' between DX 11 and Vulcan, there being something even lower from MS.
2) I think the people here would rather it be developed by an independent group like Khronos Group. For example, Apple created OpenCL as an open standard too and then abandoned it.