I remember a couple decades back reading about MCSEs and so forth, how Microsoft billed them as a way for professionals with demonstrated experience to document that and were intended for people currently working full-time in the field.

Whatever it was back then, now most certifications (not all of them) are pretty much commodities. I think it goes beyond just selling Microsoft products. Think of all the books, exam prep material, technical courses and schools and so forth that exist around various certifications. People are providing goods and services to those wanting to obtain certification and that's not really a Bad Thing. Yet it has also contributed to the current situation. I have in mind Gail's post about taking one of the exams and passing without having experience in a number of the skill areas on the test. Gail's knowledge is orders of magnitude beyond mine, and *I* looked at the test and thought "Gee, I could probably take a whack at that."

I don't know if the current state of affairs is salvageable or even if Microsoft would want to. Maybe a progressive series of certification including documented work experience as a prerequisite to sit for higher-level exams even to the point of a dissertation-like process for the "pinnacle" certifications. But as Steve points out, as companies keep asking for them, why should Microsoft want to?

The only way I could see it working is some kind of trade association or such like handling the certification process independent of Microsoft.