DMFTodd said:
Informing the public seems to be a huge job. Might it not be better to strike a business deal where "we" can become "they"? That seems like a good business strategy.
In a way, the use of the D20 Trademark is a way of being 'they' - and it is the business deal. However, d20 doesn't always mean quality of product. Just as some d20 products are better than wotc, some are worse. Some wotc products are better than others - and no 2 people agree on any of them.
Ranger REG, for example, apparently feels uncompelled to TRY anything non-wotc. If I, on the other hand, see a product that seems to be designed around something I need in my game - I'll get it. Even saving me, say, 10 hours of my own design time is hugely important to me - my time is worth more than a couple of bucks an hour.
Software is the same way. It all comes down to the amount of time versus money someone is willing to spend. If they believe Campaign Suite, DMF, whatever can save them even a dozen hours - the cost is absorbed in time saved. Most customers report using CS on a weekly basis, saving hours upon hours - was their personal time worth the price they paid? They seem to think so.
Companies with a history of quality, good support, and friendly service are the ones that climb up the ladder, become better known, and produce higher quality works in the future - success breeds success. Those that cause people to disappoint don't see repeat business for future products, and slowly fade out.
I like to consider myself among the growing category, and it gladdens me that success has helped me to re-invest more into the product. Hiring graphics artists and designers, getting a CD run sent to retail stores, even offering a 'bounty' on data expansions all serve to better the product - and I hope that one day many people DO refer to TRS as "They".
