personally, I use the free OpenOffice - it does everything MS Office does (apart from the high level functions of Access)
Allow me to rephrase that for you Sir.
"it does everything that
I do in MS Office"
There are limitations in OpenOffice (beyond whatever Access items you allude to). Its just a case that you are not aware of them because you don't use that specific functionality.
Believe me, I've seen tightwad IT managers attempt to deploy OpenOffice organisation wide so that they can continue licking the Financial Director's backside because they are "saving money". Within less than 48 hours, Microsoft Office was redeployed and the IT manager shown the door due to people in revenue generating positions being unable to use the functionality they need (or finding the OpenOffice functionality too limited or incompatible).
When sufficient users switch, MS may come into the real world as regards installation and pricing
Total nonsense.
You fail to comprehend Microsoft marketshare, in particular their business marketshare.
You fail to comprehend, for example, the relationship between Microsoft Outlook and Microsoft Exchange, and hence the sales of Office that derive from that.
Office is not going anywhere any time soon, and I'm fairly confident you'll find Microsoft are not quaking in their boots about Open Orifice.
Price points on Microsoft office are a lot better than they used to be. Nor can you argue against the good value of the "Home & Student" license for three PCs as highlighted above (this never existed a few years ago, only the Student license).
Similarly, if people fail to take advantage of OEM licensing when they buy a new PC then they've only got themselves to blame when buying add-ons at a later date.