Who the F is "Mr Daniel Leary"?? I think "Mr Daniel Leary" "is irrelevant". Why? Lets compare:
37signals gave me tools that: 1) I am using myself sometimes 2) My friends and clients are using and enjoying day by day. They are willing to pay $$ for it as it get needed things done.
37s doing just fine as a company employing these business methods
I learned A LOT from 37s books, talks, blogs etc. I talked with DHH few times at Rails events and personally think that he is a very clever guy. I usually enjoy Jason's posts as well
I made a lot of money for my self and my business using tools(like Rails) and methods that 37 signals gave me. I can say that THANKS TO 37SIGNALS ABOUT 10 PEOPLE HAVE JOBS AND GETTING PAID EVERY DAY IN MY COMPANY ALONE. This wouldn't exist without them!
Now Daniel. Maybe I am missing something about his biography but who the F is he to tell me what is relevant? What kind of expert is he??
"Let me say from the outset that I have a degree in economics. I studied this at Oxford University, and have as good a grasp as anyone. " Is it that guy http://uk.linkedin.com/in/danielleary ?? If so, then I can understand why this Oxford student explaining why some established business model that i and many other businesses successfully employ "is irrelevant" sounds so stupid and funny to me.
Sorry again for getting it so personal, but i believe that most of the HN folks can see why his points are irrelevant so there is no need to explain this here.