Like I said, WP apps can be made using the same SDK. Apps can be made today that run on WP8 will run fine even on WP7.0 and vice versa. The only apps that won't run on WP7 are apps that use features that only WP8 can support (oh snap other platforms do this too). You know what platform they want developers to target? Windows Phone. I don't think they care which version. Hell, make your app for WP7 because it will still work on WP8. When I upgraded my phone, I didn't have to re-buy or do without any of my old apps. I booted the phone and redownloaded everything just like it was, with the same WP7 apps. Like I keep saying, they're the same. You're not even submitting to a different app store. WP7 apps continue to pour into the marketplace just like they were, and can still be bought and installed on WP7.
Again, what I'm reading from your posts is that you want WP7.8 to be called WP8. And until Microsoft starts to lie to you, you won't trust them. You've proven my point quite well, people will find the tiniest little things to bitch about when it comes to Microsoft. If you don't want to buy into the phone then don't, but stop telling your "truths" to other people who might. Please try to understand how ridiculous you're being.
I don't make apps. I buy them. My ability to buy them is predicated on other people writing them to target WP7. Microsoft's messaging excludes WP7. I am well aware that you can target WP7 and WP8 simultaneously; I am also aware that Microsoft doesn't really give a shit if anyone actually does and that it is an absolutely insane proposition to expect greenfield development to actually target WP7 today--because why would it? I sure wouldn't, because the WP7 market is tiny! But it's Microsoft's job to take care of its early adopters who trusted them, and their messaging indicates no desire to really do that. OS releases and app releases are two different things, and Microsoft is falling down on the latter in a way that means I will simply not go there.
I want my phone to have the literal newest-and-best for at least two years and I don't want the platform setting a direction in which I am not explicitly included as a first-class citizen. Which Microsoft isn't doing. And, sure, you're right that Apple doesn't do that either! Great! I use my Android phones as daily drivers and the Nexus devices do exactly that. Why should anyone do differently?
Again, what I'm reading from your posts is that you want WP7.8 to be called WP8. And until Microsoft starts to lie to you, you won't trust them. You've proven my point quite well, people will find the tiniest little things to bitch about when it comes to Microsoft. If you don't want to buy into the phone then don't, but stop telling your "truths" to other people who might. Please try to understand how ridiculous you're being.