my responses
1. dx10 isnt for xp. thats true. but still consider the amount of people who are able to use dx10. like myself. i have windows vista and am able to use dx10.

2. new possiblities. play crysis. first render it in dx9. then render it in dx10(using the "-dx9" in the target box) youll see the possibilities. advanced lighting affects. realistic ambience. more dynamic, softer, soft shadows. greater processing capacity. better shadows from tree leaves. thought the sphere engine way is innovative in the 3dgs realm its doesnt look like leaves are being shadowed...looks more like blocks from a pacman game. though still very impressive. i wouldnt be able to do it so kudos to the sphere engine.

3. firoball. im not sure how to take your post. as an insult or as you just saying "someone needs to make a game that pushes dx9 to the limit" and not just me. so ill not respond to that.