[pjmlp]

Lets not forget that GCC was largely ignored until UNIX vendors, starting with Sun, decided to split UNIX into user and developer editions.

As for killing the market, there are still plenty of commercial compilers around, specially when one looks beyond the PC market.

[ggm]

Whitesmiths, pyramid and at least one other exited in the 1990s. I think what we're seeing is a more recent resurgence.