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At best, ads give somebody who wants to stay with Notes some ground to make a stand, but it won't help somebody who wants to move away. For that, IBM can make a difference by showing they care and are committed to the company/organization/department. Since none of us have any way of knowing how much was done at high levels in that regards, I'm not pointing fingers. My only gripe with your post is you are trying to make a technical (or possibly business/technical) argument with the wrong person. Ads are imporant, martketing is important, but in my experience in the corporate world, both pale in comparison to a sense of follow through and commitment. I have customers who pay maintenance year after year without complaint because they have a sense that I will be there for them when something happens. They don't feel badly if nothing ever does. They feel good that I am there. When IBM drops the ball, which it does sometimes, it costs a lot in terms of that sense of security. Same goes with Microsoft or any other vendor. I know of people who despise Microsoft management and feel that they drop the ball like crazy. I know even more who feel that way about IBM. Either way, pointing to a bunch of links on your website isn't going to cut it, although sometimes it is all that an individual can do. Alan does a great job of keeping the information available and pointing it out. That is a great service, but can't substitute for a sense from the company that IBM is there, ready and willing to help. IBM doesn't always follow through (see above), and when they don't, Alan's links and your business/technical arguments aren't going to make any difference.
How many people do you know who will trade in a perfectly good car that has worked well for them for years and still probably has many good years left for a new model that catches their eye. Does it make any business or technical sense? Of course not. That is why most auto advertisements are aimed at retaining brand loyalty rather than switching it. Make a car owner glad he or she bought the kind of car they did an dnext time they will buy the newest model from you again. People will switch, so try to make sure they switch to another version of your own stuff. (Which is partly why IBM does offer new products such as Quickr, Connections, Websphere Portal, etc.)
Feedback response number BLAS7ARHTS created by ~Wei Brekrotheretsi on 01/11/2008
I never said it would.
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. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . I never said it would. (~Yentl Quetkrot... 11.Jan.08) 
