Hello folks!
Pardon my intrusion, but I find this topic very interesting and would like to add my two cents.
First, a little introduction: This is my first ever post here, although I've been using Windowblinds for some few years. I was so happy to find it because I absolutely loathe and despise the ugliness of Windows. Seven was a slight improvement over XP, but you know what I mean.
For the first couple years I had the program, I searched in vain for a skin like what I envisioned: Futuristic with black, shiny glass and transparencies. I found one skin that came close, but was broken for some reason or other, so settled for another skin that I used for a long while. Then, I eventually found Vampothica's skins. That was more like it! Shortly thereafter, I fell over the astounding, fantastic, breath-taking creations of neone6. Oh-my-GOD!!! 
So, I've been worshipping at the altar of neone6 ever since. Today, I came to see if I could find any more about my all-time favorite skin: Cypher, when I found Legend! I instantly downloaded it and then found comments saying it was to be the last - wait, last? 
...skin... 
So, I finally went to the forum to find out what happened, and here I am. Hi!
Well, that's me. On to the topic at hand:
My observation is that the thing that really drives changes to society, perhaps even more than the pursuit of cash, is convenience. This has been observed in every human culture in the World, throughout all time periods in history. Why wash clothes in a tub, when a machine can do it for you? Why walk to work when a big machine with wheels can carry you? Likewise, why be dependant on servers you have to buy, when you can just tap into community servers when you need to?
Did you guys watch the video posted on the first page of this thread? Go back and take a look if you haven't; it's pretty short. This video doesn't teach us a thing about how the cloud system works, but what it does teach us is that the cloud is convenient! Saves time, money, and effort! It also teaches us that the average joe isn't the one who's going to invest in (or directly use, except in certain situations) the cloud. It's the big, or small but successful web companies that have already glommed on to it. By this point, it's already established, and will be the way forward. The average joe is already caught up in it, without ever even knowing it, because the websites he goes to regularly are already there. If you use the Internet, you're already in the cloud. Another thing I found very interesting about the video is: He blatantly says "Do you really care what server your information is going to, or where it is?" Err, well, yes as a matter of fact I do! Duh!
However, since it is human nature to seek evermore for convenience, this is what we have. The thing that tends to get overlooked in the rush forward is the cost. Convenience, you see, always comes with cost. Steep cost, at that. But neveryoumind, my lad! It's progress! Makes life easier! Land of milk & honey! Yep, yep. 
Well, that's my two cent's worth, anyway; and very pleased to make all of your acquaintences. 
