[parker]

So then by this logic, it's the market that's going to tend internet revenus to zero?

You're right. And this will lead to a massive market correction at some point. Companies that had the balls to listen to reason (a la 37signals), will be the ones that weather the storm. They'll end up being the Berkshire-Hathaway of the internet industry because they a)focus on the long-term, b) concentrate on what they know and do best, and c) fiercely execute on value, and not trends.

There's a reason Warren Buffet came through the dot-com crash unscathed. And it's the exact same reason why companies like 37signals will as well.

[dpapathanasiou]

If ad-subsidized businesses turn out to be infeasible over the long term, then yes, you'll see companies go out of business and/or start charging for their services.

Either way, though, it's not the fault of the VCs.