I think the native look and feel is important because the emulated interface always seem to have flaws and added to the training cost of users. Each new version of Windows would bring problems for the emulated interfaces where the tools using the native widgets didn't have the same problem. Worse, something like Squeak which is basically running a foreign OS in a window with garish colors.
I know a lot of enterprise apps go off into the weeds, but their success is driven by external factors. Successful tools really need to appeal to a broad group of developers.
I really think a native widget version of Smalltalk that included the database access could have done a fine job, but it always seemed with Smalltalk that the NIH syndrome was so high and they could build their own things better. Its like they didn't respect any platform they were running on.
I know a lot of enterprise apps go off into the weeds, but their success is driven by external factors. Successful tools really need to appeal to a broad group of developers.
I really think a native widget version of Smalltalk that included the database access could have done a fine job, but it always seemed with Smalltalk that the NIH syndrome was so high and they could build their own things better. Its like they didn't respect any platform they were running on.