Doc,
An issue is a perception that vendors and customers are "different". At different times we are vendors and at other times we are all customers. We are vendors when we sell our time or give away our attention for something "free".
When we are customers we want vendors to look after our data. When we are vendors we should look after our customer's data.
What is missing from much of the discussion is protecting organisation vendors from their customers who are happy to give away the details of their relationships. In other words, the systems we build should be symmetrical. We as customers want our data protected. We as vendors should protect our customer's data. VRM systems should protect vendor's data as well as protect customer's data.
Somehow the idea that we are all in this together (the Commons) needs to be included.
Kevin