I have this buddy who is trying to persuade me to purchase Microsoft Visual Studio to create Microsoft Silverlight content for the web.

He is a big MS guy and swears that it's so quick, easy and powerful, and that it will be as integral as HTML in a few years, but I just don't know.

In your respective eyes, how does it compare to other technologies, such as Adobe Flash, Adobe Flex, Adobe Shockwave, Gears (software), and JavaFX, and when (if ever) is the time to jump on the bandwagon?

Sorry if I've missed a previous discussion on it. New listener and haven't made it through the archives yet.