WPF custom user widgets. Will UI components be standardized?

Question

There are lots of articles and video lessons that describe how to create your unique user widget (graphical control) with WPF. There are tons of technical details what is behind the scene and I feel people enthusiasm with ability to customize widgets as never before.

I remember those days when VCL library (Delphi) appeared and there was the same enthusiasm in VCL widgets area. Ability to create VCL controls was nearly the must when you was applying for a job as Delphi developer. This situation continued for several years till professional sophisticated 3'd party UI libraries appeared. Hardly you'll have to create your own VCL widget nowadays.

Will WPF widgets enthusiasm die as VCL one?

Answer 1

Depends. I mean, seriously - I do write a LOT of UI widgets at the moment... for a financial trading application that is "widget oriented" (like sharepoint, just WPF).

IN Them, though, and that is the level most developers will work, I use Microsoft + Infragistics and - that is it.

What for should I write more low level widgets? I mean, the offers out there, especially with the tremendous skinning support, are simply good enough. Most applications can be ok with the stock offers from Microsoft (especially as a Ribbon is downloadable). It is not enthusiasm dying, it is need not being there, if you ask me.