Quite the opposite: clippy was useless but not hostile which is a sobering contrast to software that is hostile and therefore worse than useless.

It's a cute nostalgic way to say "the bar was on the floor and you blew it anyway."

Yes, I see the same flaw in the argument. Retrospectively looking back and saying it was good because it didn't do any of the shit companies do today; but, really, it wasn't as bad as it could be because the technology just wasn't there to begin with. Counter-factual either way, but calling it "good" is a stretch.

Not to take away from the movement, though. I think it's great.

You are obviously correct, but I don't know that it really matters.

As I see it, the movement is about pointing out that the most useless dumbest biggest failure of a mega corporation is actually great in light of their current practices.

Why does it matter whether they would have messed it up if they implemented it today?

Restated: the point is not that clippy is great. The point is that he sucked, and that he is great relative to what kinds of products Microsoft is creating today.

yeah clippy absolutely would have sold your data if he'd been clever enough to do that.

A modern day Clippy would no doubt be like Friend Computer.

  It looks like you're a communist traitor.

  Would you like help?

  * Here are the names of my co-conspirators

  * Just terminate me now