Microsoft's kernel code lockdown is a grteat idea! It will surely make Windows Vista 64-bit edition much more secure than operating systems where any Theo, Dick and Linus can muck about with the kernel code. And it isn't at all anti-competitive!

Of course, the biggest loser here is the poor consumer.

Security through obscurity doesn't work -- MS ought to know by now.

By "blackboxing" the Vista64 kernel MS has just thrown down the challenge to every blackhatter out there - and tying the security industry's hands behind their backs.

Who gets to deal with the fallout, the popups, the adware, the keyloggers, the viruses, the blacklisting for zombiespamming ?

The poor consumer.

I pity MS - they finally had a serious chance at becoming respectable, and offering a serious desktop operating system - but instead, their desire for total ironfisted control and bundling as much mediocre apps to cover up for their own coding failures lost them their chance.

Then only outlaws will have access to the kernel.