… part of why Microsoft's ideas didn't really take off was that we developers just didn't get it. Most of us were amateurs and had no computer degree. Instead we were so busy learning about semantic markup and CSS that we totally missed the rest. And finally, I think too few people back then were fluent enough in JavaScript, let alone in architecting complex applications with JavaScript to appreciate things like HTML Components, Data Binding or Default Behaviors. Not to speak of those weird XML sprinkles and VML

This is a must-read for all web dev people. Plenty of info on the poineering that was done with Internet Explorer at a time where we, the web tinkerers, weren't quite there yet.