Hi all, To clarify, I was not suggesting that the relative dryness of the Argon enhanced its thermal performance. The dryness is an unrelated benefit. Dry gas in the sealed unit means that no interior condensation can occur. So, by sealing in virtually moisture-free gas in the sealed units airspace, you start off right. By subjecting it to moisture right from the start, you reduce its effective lifespan.
Desiccant is there as a final defence.
I see that site answers most of these questions too. But I didn't see any window maker sponsors from Canada which has the most energy efficient windows in North America as far as I can tell. It's too bad there is such an information barrier between the Canadian and U.S. window markets. Loewen Windows is a founding member of the Efficient Window Collaborative. Other CDN manufacturers have similar US affiliations and US firms are active in Canada.