Which Macro language to choose?

[David Finlayson]

I have been looking over the documentation for 8.1 and the days of
ArcInfo AML are numbered.  But is ArcObjects ready to
replace AML?  Clearly, the interaction with Windows will be much smoother,
but here I am referring to analytical capabilities.  For example, I looked
at the objects available for Hydrology (Watershed, Fill, etc...)  There
looked to be far fewer available in Spatial Analyst than were formerly
available in GRID.  Also, the commands that were duplicated had fewer
options and no technical documentation about the algorithms employed or
usage guidelines.

Frankly, I am confused about the role each product now plays.  It looks
like ArcInfo's GRID, TIN, AP, and EDIT have all been replaced by updated
versions in ArcView (ArcMap) and extensions such as Spatial Analyst and 3D
Analyst.  Are ArcInfo's analytical capabilities fully implemented in these
new tools, if not, is the new VB (or COM) language fully compatible with
ArcInfo?  In other words.  Is now the time to learn VB or should I stick
with AML for the time being?

-- 
David Finlayson
Department of Earth and Space Sciences
University of Washington, Box 351310
Seattle, WA 98195-1310
(206) 543-1975