Well Interoperability is a problem, but its not cos of Linux or openoffice in particular. Can openoffice help it if M$ hasn't released the specs of the .doc format (atleast i couldnt find it even after extensive search on google, if any has then please let me know), besides openoffice atleast publishes the format it uses unlike M$ who like to "lock in" their customers.

Interoperability will always be an issue as long as people are seeing to it that it is.Atleast with linux, its "open" about all formats and implementations. Even if others r not keen to reveal their implementation atleast the format should be revealed. What if the company were no longer in business, what happens to all the stuff thats "locked" now. This topic was touched my Dr. Nagarjuna also at the GLUG meet before this one (the one in which we had the HURD demo)

The same argument applies to almost all (probably all) M$ products.

So as long as you choose a closes solution u cannot complain about interoperability (according to me).

Anand