I just want to clarify what vendor lock-in is:
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vendor_lock-in
I think many of the lock-in arguments depend on whether you consider the lock-in as coming from the vendor, vs. as coming from the market.
For example, the argument quoted above relies on the current situation of not being able to obtain the feature from anyone else except AMD. However, I'm not sure the current situation satisfies the definition of "making" the consumer dependent (i.e., forcing them).
But will that remain forever? Is there something here that is preventing other vendors from using the tech - can AMD somehow block Intel or NVidia from using it?
My feeling is that, lock-in turns on whether others are blocked from using something. But I can see Ocre's point, that Intel and Nvidia don't currently support this open standard, so you have a "de facto" lock-in.
It would require speculation to say that an open standard would be used by Intel or Nvidia, to where the consumer would have a choice.
But maybe I'm missing something - is there something blocking them from using it, or is it just the current conditions where they aren't using it and nothing is stopping them?