[powertower]

Since when couldn't you just open IE and download your browser of choice?

The browser ballot is BS imposed by bureaucrats.

[vidarh]

Since human nature meant a substantial percentage of users are uninformed about what is available to them, and this is part of what made Microsoft monopoly abuse possible.

[powertower]

Hold on...

So when a consumer is not aware of XXX, it's Microsoft's fault?

*Substitute XXX for anything you want - alternative browsers, quantum mechanics, his own mortality, etc.

Personally, I think it's the consumer who should accept that responsibility.

[MichaelApproved]

Back in the day, Netscape charged for their browser. You couldn't just download your browser, you had to pay. Even though IE wasn't as good, people stuck with it because it was the free option that was already there.

Never mind that even if a browser is free, alternative browsers face substantial friction. Many users don't even understand what a browser actually is.