Well funny than you mentioned MSDOS, since that OS and Windows following ONLY where successful because of clever marketing deals. MSDOS was initially developed as QDOS, Quick and Dirty Operating System and plagiarized CP/M. It was successful because it was pre-installed on all IBM computers, followed by vendor-lock in. Ever heard of the superior OSs like OS/2 or NextStep? Because of software compatibility normal end users where forced to use windows until OSX and only IOS and android have the potential to break this lock. MS execs never bothered with software development quality and instead focused on marketing. It's the prime example how marketing can easily trump quality. Don't get me wrong, I hate marketing and advertising, I think it should be banned, but it's a necessary evil.
I don't want to spell doom and gloom here, but in a stunning reversal of this threads topic I think FD should clone some of the marketing ideas from SC.
Now check this out about
MS-DOS vs DR-DOS (The successor of CP/M)
So what is a compelling selling point about Elite Dangerous? Procedural Generation. What has been just announced for Star Citizen? Procedural Generation
(research for a small portion of the game maybe someday). FUD?
Of course FD is doing a great job with ED and will produce a great game, but the first version will be somewhat limited. Some people will be disappointed, many will stop playing after they have enough money to purchase the biggest weapons and biggest ships. It's long term success will depend on how fast and big expansions will be, and that will depend on sales numbers, and those depend on people knowing about the game. And that depends on spreading the word, in other words marketing. I appreciate the British reserved dignity, but for marketing screaming bloody murder is the right way to go. Comms are low atm, when they should be stepped up.