I do backups using a windows scheduled batch file that runs sqlcmd.exe (part of sql express). Slightly hackish but it gets the job done.
Anyway, I hope that articles and interviews like yours do make MS lower the price of SQL standard, but people shouldn't dismiss the MS platform based on cost when in many cases it could be almost free.
MySQL is a pleasure to work with and so it MongoDB, more so than SQL Server.
If you prefer SQL Server than more power to you.