[jdbernard]

Because the XML document has a semantic meaning that is specifically designed for this application. It may even have a schema definition document which formally defines what types to expect. JSON, by contrast, has type definitions imposed on it by its nature as JavaScript code.

[sanderjd]

I've sort of lost track of what this debate is about... Assuming you don't have a schema definition, it seems to me that you can just as easily parse `{ "salary": "1e999" }` with application-encoded semantics as `<salary>1e999</salary>` with (again) application-encoded semantics. Maybe having a formal schema definition is a win, though.