Was it? or maybe it was even more mean-spirited? Leaf had a contract to support the system and already a number of customers they bought it to it... After P1's take over, all Leaf AFI where "mod.2" version, on which Sinarbacks where not compatible anymore... Another P1 "under the table" action?
I never ever remember another company than P1 being afraid to directly compete with anybody in equal terms... All they do is creating a fake marketing "image profile"...
Phase One is a mean company? And Hasselblad (or Rollei in the day) is ... a nice company? Um hmm. Right. They're all (except for Phase One, of course) so nice, they just want everyone to get along. I guess some have forgotten that these companies are ultimately in business to make a profit. And any smart company will be focused on doing exactly that. A company that makes great products isn't much good to anyone if they aren't open for business.
As far as Leaf mod.2 support of Sinarbacks, perhaps it was decided that it was best to support - in the technical sense - only Leaf digital backs on Leaf AFi products? And let Sinar handle their support of Sinarbacks on Sinar Hy6 or Rollei Hy6 cameras?
I must say... this kind of "logic" surprises me...
P1 didn't loose any platform, Contax didn't stop making cameras for P1, they stopped making cameras for all MFDB makers! OTOH, Hasselblad was never "lost"... The H2F was an "open" platform for all makers! The H3/H3II where complete cameras (again) that couldn't accept an MFDB on them (not even Hasselblad's own CF series).
OTOH, Leaf & Sinar didn't join Rollei (only)... they where making backs for anybody (just like P1), if P1 wanted to support Rollei, they where free to do so... Nothing stopping them!
I'm also in a position to know, that Mamiya "blocked" Imacon backs (but not P1) after the AFD... My (at the days) Imacon 528c, could work on an AFD and do multishot without any exterior cable needed, but it couldn't work at all on an AFD II... (Obviously negotiations with P1 and Mamiya started before the deal was complete...) P1 was invited to support the Rollei platform... they just refused to do so.
So, everyone lost a platform (Contax), including Phase One. Let's say it for what it was.
You're right, Phase One could have supported Rollei, after all, they already had, with P20/P45 models. I mean, according to you, they had an invitation, right? Probably a nice little card in an envelope was sent from Rollei with some words to the effect of - "We'd love you to join our wonderful platform, save the date!".
One thing I always try to keep in mind on this (and any) forum, and that is writing in a forum is not easy, and presenting an argument the same way that you would face to face is not easy. I never assume that posters don't know what they're talking about, in fact I notice that most indeed have a good deal of knowledge and information on topics. But Theo - in your case, regardless of what you know or what you think you know, what distorts and devalues any of that is your extremely biased presentation on the topic.
The H2F was an open platform camera? I seem to recall some of my Phase One clients who were using Hasselblad cameras were so pissed off that they could no longer buy a nw Hasselblad camera for their Phase One digital back, they renamed the H2F the H2FU. You're painting this picture that Phase One is
- uniquely - some sort of conspiratorial, under-handed camera company assassin that ruthlessly plots to put others out of business by not accepting their free invitations and canceling platform support willy nilly. Do you really think that in any of the circumstances that you raise, money/costs are not a factor or point of contention?
I know - first hand - for a fact, that Phase One considered being involved in the Rollei situation at the time, as well as after the dust had settled. They looked at the situation, looked hard at the situation, and made what seemed to them the smarter business decision. It is quite possible that hitching their wagon to Rollei may have threatened Phase One's existence, the same way it impacted Leaf. There is the notion that with Phase One behind the Rollei platform, the day would have been saved. That is a Theory. It is not a fact.
Whether you like the older Mamiya cameras, or whether or not you like the new XF platform, the fact is Phase One made a business decision, and their business decision has enabled them to stay open for business, and continue to produce innovative digital capture solutions for photographers (sorry if that sounds a bit like a commercial, but it's a fact).
It is my strong belief that companies make decisions for very valid reasons, I've actually witnessed quite a few very hard, complex discussions concerning big question decisions, and I've never seen anything resembling the simplistic motivations that you, Theo have attributed to Phase One. To assume one knows everything that went into that decision and castigate them for not making the decision you wanted, but to also apply a coat of viciousness as the motivation behind the decision is, I don't know how else to say it, Theo, it is BS.
Steve Hendrix/CI