Good point Paul and illustrates the value of getting that essential 'buzz' and rapid/massive adoption. Google's acquisition recognised that although it had an equally viable delivery mechanism, the adoption levels were way behind YouTube, possibly because users weren't associating the Google brand with video search and delivery. ...

  I was having this discussion yesterday about YouTube.  Very much a SaaS model but initially without any practical revenue stream capable of ameliorating the punitive bandwidth charges ($1 million is a conservative monthly estimate).  A case of good delivery mechanism, poor commercial model maybe?   However, ...