Re: what was the single mgmt decision made in mid-1990s. period

From: M. Lazarus
1) Cheaper development costs.

IBM may not openly debate that, but they are promoting RDI-SOA as an alternative to a native GUI. They expressly position it as a programmer productivity tool. What you're asking for would compete against their own product - disrupt their own ecosystem.

2) We can claim that "it's in there"

When I consider the breadth and scope of Web technologies that exist, I have a hard time understanding what "it's in there" means. Just consider the AJAX frameworks, alone.

3) We don't have extra 3rd party layers to deal with for a necessary,
very integrated function.

Again, when you're dealing with distributed, client-server technology like Web interfaces, you really can't characterize them as "integrated" with the server - at least not at the same level as the 5250 interface.

The overall benefit is that the people promoting the system in the
field would be able to sell it without the usual "isn't this that
really old system?

Sorry, but I have more disconnect there. IBM already provides HATS and Webfacing, as a mask over 5250. Are you suggesting that they rewrite every native command as a new Web application?