I enjoyed that read. Two things went through my mind:

1. Look at page 19 of the presentation. The group of people that pushed
VMS forward was about the same size as the most active core of the
Firebird community. We have the resources to create legendary software.

2. VMS/VAX appeared in 1997, and originated on the US east coast.
DOS/x86 in 1980, and originated on the US west coast. It is quite
possible that VMS was the last big thing to come out of the east coast
before it turned into an 'IT rustbelt', with the people and money
moving to what would become 'silicon valley'.

Paul