thanks for all the response!

It seems the recurring theme is that "new technology hurts
alphabets" which is a little troubling but tells us something about
the sophistication of writing itself. The heart of the problem I
suspect is not "technology" but poorly implemented technology or, in
the Guttenburg typesetting case, technology that is utilized in a
way beyond what it was designed for. The publisher's need to reach
larger audiences is greater than their desire to preserve script. I
guess thats an economic force. And/Or the first(?) law of
information -that it will propogate, by hook or by crook.

People with the technology know-how are not often the same people
who come from a literary or othography backgrounds. I think this has
helped complicate matters also (certainly I've been guilty here).
Fortunately we've got Qalam and like groups to help bring the two
sides together.

On the technology plus side, we're communicating now of course, and
the world has gained lots of :-)s

/Daniel