Don't sweat it, Mak. It took a while for XP to be accepted. At least Vista was (fairly) stable out of the gate, whereas XP took a SP to get it running properly.
Like you said, drivers are not M$ responsibility. It is up to the manufacturers to put them out. If they don't make a driver for your old equipment, you will have to buy new to use it with your computer, which equals $$$.
Think about it, people. Many don't like M$ (I despise their business practices at times), but we can't blame them because the makers of computer parts and peripherals are trying to make all they can with Vista. All they have to do is ignore the call for new drivers and people will go out and buy a new whatever so it will work... and the public blames Vista for the problem. Put the blame where the blame is due.