DirectX SDK isn't the same as DirectX runtimes (which is what Average Joe will have installed).
Thought so. At first i was thinking wether the actual directX layer itself was going to be dropping v7/8. That would be a horrible/stupid thing to do. :) What, and have everybody crying foul because "Micro$oft are forcing - yes - FORCING me to upgrade!"?
People do that anyway, so wouldnt make much difference.' Problem is MS need peoples dependency as it one of the main things that gives them such a hold in the OS market. If it wasnt for dependency they would be in -real- trouble now that there are better/as-good alternatives.