Amen.

It is so frustrating... in tech circles, it is widely known/understood for at least 2 decades, that an open file/data format is much more important than open source software.

Just make ODF the mandatory file format and be done with it. (Yes, I know, old documents and the work of transforming ... but if we do not start right now, when would be a better time?)

Mandatory where? it is already the preferred format of the British government, and I think I have read about other adoption, and as well as some governments adopting open source office suites which would push them towards ODF.

Other governments could follow, but the private sector is reluctant. Even Airbus which is a high profile move away from MS has gone to Google Docs.

Because https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Embrace,_extend,_and_extinguis...