ABP has been hosting WSS for Public and Private clients since 2001 (Team Services). Our hosted clients (users and IT) have full time jobs outside of learning, supporting, training, optimizing, and customizing the needed SharePoint solutions. I think it should be noted that the list above is assuming the hosted client is still doing all of the above tasks of which our Client's do NONE. We provide; Single Sign on 3rd Party Apps Custom Code Shared and Dedicated systems State of the Art back up and DR. We don't sell access to the shell. We provide the Full Solution which empowers our Client's to focus on their jobs and increasing revenue. After 2.5 years hosting for a National Bank we migrated 100% of the solution into their NOC for them to manage. The above list speaks to only those hosted solutions that allow access for the client to do the work. Don't companies need the solution and effeciency, not the headache, learning curve and upfront investment? Just my .02

Hi Tom, Good points. I think where my point and yours differ, is that by hosting, I mean the "$50/month" providers that are out there, that provide hosting for a 'fixed/monthly' charge. I believe what you are getting at (which we also provide), is providing a dedicated SharePoint, "hosted solution" - one on closed gear, for that one client - in a custom "managed" fashion. My post is related to the "one size fits all" providers ... as many customers are coming to us saying "I want everything SharePoint provides, for $50/month like at online business X or Y" - and that just isn't possible to do, for that price. Thanks for the comments, and have a great weekend!