...that's the new MS mantra. Too bad 'reactivate' doesn't have an $ in it.

I disagree completely with their conclusion ("it won't be so bad"). I can think of several occasions in the last month in which I upgraded a machine's CPU (which changes 2 of the 10 bit-fields) and added RAM. And I change NIC's all the time.

No--once your software starts directly dictating your hardware (as opposed to your user needs dictating both), it's time to find a new software vendor.