Back to alternative four, profitability. The businesses with their goals set on early profitability and positive cash flow are relatively immune to the changing whims of investors. Their biggest problem is surviving the period when heavily funded competitors operate at a loss, effectively subsidizing each customers' purchases. The good news is that Dot-Com Winter is only an investment crisis, not a revenue crisis. The Net continues to be a vibrant and potent place to do business.
Sales continue to grow.
Traffic continues to increase. New users continue to get on the Net. As long as the customers are there, companies will be motivated to create and build sustainable businesses. It's back to business fundamentals. That game may not be as much fun as the high risk, high stakes game of landrush market share grab, but a lot more players get to play a lot longer.