I would like to remind you that we are talking about Ruby vs essentially VBScript. I mean, I pretty much hated the Ruby hype and especially the attempts to make it seem better than it really was, but we are indeed talking here about web software written in VBScript that ran only on Windows. For many people working with web tech today, that is inconcievable. Not that it didn't have its fair share of detractors back then...

Hats off to FogCreek for building a successful product, but that doesn't mean that people have to admire or even accept their technical choices without any criticism. I for one consider DHH's criticism to be on mark.