The Azure platform is based upon an incredibly stable and mature set of technologies -- each technology DESIGNED to work with each other seamlessly. (Unlike the so-called 'FOSS equivalents'.)
.NET and the CLR was designed from the ground up to support whatever languages or tools anyone cared to develop on top of it. VB.NET, ASP.NET and now PERL.NET or PHP.NET or whatever else happens to be desired -- makes no difference -- all have access to the same underlying infrastructure and resources equally.
So far, adoption of this framework outside Microsoft-oriented development circles has been slow, but this is very shortly about to change.
For the non-Microsoft application developer, Azure represents a step 10 years forward compared to whatever they are using now.
Instead of having to cobble together disparate bits and pieces -- they can code to a known and proven environment -- spending time on what matters -- developing the applications and solving business problems instead of trying to write kluge and glue.
(Of course those who HAVE been developing on on .NET, MOSS, SQL, Exchange foundations already know this.)
Azure most certainly won't be 'free' -- but if one considers one's time as having value -- it won't matter.
There is a TON of money to be made -- and those people adopting Azure and the kick-a$$ development tools that go along with it are going to win -- BIG.
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