[coolpoete]

if you read up on Windows Mobile 7 that is about to come out there is talk that addresses the fact that Microsoft nor HTC currently release updates for WM 6.x on time. Supposedly Windows Mobile 7 will fix that issue and these updates will only come from one source and should be more readily availble.

The problem with Windows Mobile so far is that each ROM has a number of bugs, wether it be 5, 6.0, 6.1 and beyond. Every new update fixes bugs in the previous version. So even if you never flashed a custom rom, eventually an official update *may* come to your phone which would require you to flash it if you so chose. I still can't figure out who was responsible for the updates officially. For example, on the Motorola Q9 series phones there were several updates released through Motorola's site for 6.1. However, the Q9M for whatever reason never got one. Then Verizon picked up the Q9C which for all intensive purposes was the exact same phone except for a 6.1 software update. So, users who wanted 6.1 had to flash their phones to this unofficial ROM. I read somewhere that these updates are specific to carrier and amount of units the carrier has sold. So it's probably fair to say that if your phone is popular it will be more prone to receiving an update.

So there are several reasons why someone might want to flash, many reasons have been given. Another prevailing factor is that Microsoft continues to develop Sense with WM 6.5.x builds and is not pushing these updates to many carriers. If you lucked out and bought a HD2 you may have one of the latest builds but if you have a Imagio you are out of luck for the time being.