Still, management should get credit for finally working to thin Sage's product line. Last month, the parent Sage Group rolled out a plan to create core and non-core applications. And while management emphasized that non-core does not mean dead, some have shorter lives, such as Sage 500, Sage Pro and PFW. While the channel was in a foul mood in the spring, things improved dramatically starting about six weeks ago. And whether that was because dealers like some changes or whether they have simply accepted them, such as rebranding, Summit had a much better atmosphere than seemed likely early in June. And let's toss in the thought that Sage got going, a little late maybe, but still got going on soothing feelings. In his keynote, Houillon hit some major issues head on, including the common complaint that Sage does not invest enough in R&D. Sage, he says, spends "22 percent of the budget" but it has been spread out among too many products. There was more frankness and openness than we've seen in the past. I'm not sure that executives from the prior regime would have readily admitted, after I raised the issue, that U.S. version of X-3 needs some holes fixed. An ISV meeting to outline integration of products through SData also seemed an event that would not have happened previously. Above all, in his heavily French accented English, Houillon stressed "Focus", which resounded through the conference for days. Ask someone who was there.