Again, having tested Freehand against Illustrator in the creative departments
I've run since 1985, we found it a much more efficient creative tool for
creating SERIES of ads, SERIES of packaging, entire advertising CAMPAIGNS, and
print collateral SERIES. To lose this highly esteemed creative tool is a
SERIOUS mistake on Adobe's part.

The three kingpin applications that my shops have run have been #1 FREEHAND,
#2 PHOTOSHOP, #3 FLASH. Everything else is tertiary from the design/advertising
process point of view. I am now looking into open source replacements for
Freehand. While this may appear extreme, I assure you - trying to replace
Freehand with as clunky of an application as Illustrator is a money losing
proposition for my agency.