> If you're going to judge a device by how well it runs proprietary software, you might as well try the software and services designed and implemented by the company
The only reason to use proprietory software is that it can do something that free software cannot. Whether I like it or not Skype falls into that category. I can reach 10s of people I might want to call (some for free because they might be on Skype themselves and the rest for very competitive international phone rates)
With GoogleTalk I know nobody I could reach, I believe calling to the POTS is not even available here in this country (or their marketing is bad enough that I have missed it).
So whether it fits into anybody's ecosystem or not Skype is unfortunately useful (for me). About GoogleTalk I couldn't care less.