I've always thought Facebook has been awesome. In my experience of the web, they were one of the first websites I used daily that pushed that much ajax.. and I loved it.
What do you think is wrong with the xbox core engineering (the division he is going into), and why do you think it's despised? Or is this just blind MS hate?
The xbox hardware is notoriously flaky - both the console and the controllers break regularly and have to be replaced. Unlike the PC, it is not easy to open up and fix - you need a veritable constellation of star keys and various other tools and special training. If the xbox hardware was as robust as the casing there would be no problem at all.