My hope is that MS Flight evolves into something similar to the iOS App Store. They open up development to developers who, for the most part, know what they are doing.

This is bang on. I originally hoped for something like this, and I admit that the lack of user-created content is my main source of dissatisfaction with Flight.I understand that Microsoft doesn't want an app store filled with "fart apps", or other low quality apps. I think they could get out of the content creation business though, and simply accept a commision on anything they sell through their store. Apple does sell it's own software on the app store, but obviously they can make a lot of money on other people's content too. This will take time though, and Flight needs to mature a bit before I would expect to see an SDK.

There are a few big, well known brands making add on's for FSX would it really kill MS to allow them to make things? Maybe It could even remain MS branding, yet be developed in part (upto 100%) by some of the big names

There are a few big, well known brands making add on's for FSX would it really kill MS to allow them to make things? Maybe It could even remain MS branding, yet be developed in part (upto 100%) by some of the big names

It would be nice, but not the model they've chosen. Making dlc inhouse is the norm, flight simulator with its open architecture would be an abnormal model in the modern world. Hope that some more 3pd make models for ms as comtractors though - the best hope for the short term.As for freeware - buried in the backyard with the beetroot, i'm afraid.