> He transformed Microsoft’s image from the aggressive monopolist of the Ballmer years into something approaching a beloved technology partner. Beloved technology partner? Your mileage may vary.
At work we've moved from several AAA-class products and services to Microsoft ones. The Microsoft ones were cheaper and more integrated but always less capable, like a minimum viable product design. It's just good enough to not pay for a separate third party product but just put up with the included product in the bundle.
And the deeper you get in the ecosystem the harder it is to ever get out. And of course the more you get dependent on them the more leverage they have in the next contract negotiation.
I don't consider them a trusted partner either because they often overpromise, downplay design limitations to our leadership.