The solidity of standards allows producers and consumers alike to depend on quality, features and price. There are no great technological changes in the world of soap or paper or drinking glasses, so their respective apple-carts remain upright. In software, though, new technologies and techniques appear monthly. In the world of user interface design, we desperately need all the advances we can get. Standards allow us to consolidate our technological gains and exploit our collective accomplishments.
Standards are a plateau in the steep climb of invention.
They may hinder innovation, but they allow commercial products to build a base of customers. This commercial success in turn funds more invention. And even there, Microsoft is only effective on the fringe standards like MAPI and TAP, while standards on center stage like OBDC and OLE are fiercely contended by others. CUA failed because it was too much, too soon and too much of a lowest common denominator. Calculated to offend no one, it offended all.