The GNOME Foundation on OOXML

> Even if we took this pessimistic point of view, then why bother?

It's not pessimistic, it's just reality; Microsoft dictates file formats because the vast
majority of people use their software and will use it irregardless of any sort of OSI
technical commity.

As to 'why bother?'.. Why bother at all making a Free and open source operating system? 

Answer: 

Because there should be one and people should be able to use it. That's all. It's the right
thing to do and if everything works out then everybody will be using open standards and open
formats and not be shackled to the whims of major corporations. 

Just because something does not have a likely success in the short term does not mean it's not
worth doing. The very fact that Microsoft is now forced to engage in, at least the pretense,
of documenting and establishing their formats as a standard shows how much of a impact ODF is
having. If it wasn't, ultimately, a danger to Microsoft's hegemony over the computer industry
then they would not of reacted at all. (another example.. after years of stagnation Microsoft
is forced to update IE in response to Firefox)