Vinny,
I have been joined by another expert in my opinion. The suggestion that VB6, a language that is more than 10 years old, with hardly any support, not object-oriented should somehow remain the platform for Amazing Charts simply does not hold water.
We are advocating converting to the .NET platform because there are multiple benefits of doing so. The number one benefit is vb.net and the .net framework is OBJECT-ORIENTED. A properly architected .NET application saves time and money by utilizing re-usable code. The second advantage in the n-tier architecture is the ability to separate the various layers of the application into distinct subsets.
For example, the data layer would hold the data and stored procedures, the business rules layer would hold the application logic. The presentation layer (user interface) could be written for windows, the web or even a smart client. Because presentation layer only presents the data to the user, and holds little code, the application can be "ported" to new devices quite easily.
Additionally, Vinny, SQL Server 2005 is tightly integrated with the .Net Framework. While TSQL is a clunky language, using VB.Net a developer can write CLR Stored Procedures.
But here is the largest benefit. As the practitioners who use AC become more and more successful and their practices expand, AC will have to expand to accomodate their growth. I currently work with a client who delivers their entire application as a SERVICE: there is no infrastructure cost to the end user, they sign up and they are up and running. The software provider provides the database, the application and everything via the web.
Everyone understands quite clearly that it is not a trivial hack. No one suggested it ever was. I said re-architected. I never suggested a "trivial hack."
I have over 15 years software engineering expertise, including the last 8 with VB.Net. No matter what your devotion to VB6 is it is without foundation. I would no more recommend using VB6 to develop an application today, than I would recommend travel from AZ to CA by stagecoach!
