🚀 go-pugleaf

I have some (maybe stupid) questions regarding MS-windows development.
I'd like to play around with the MS-Windows environment, but the cost seems
ridiculous. (mail order -- $300 for MS-C, $350 for Windows SDK, $75 to 
upgrade my Windows from 1.03 to 2.01 ...) 

(alright, maybe it's not ridiculous, just more than I want to spend)  

1) Why is MS-C required?  It seems to me (not knowing enough about C) that
if you have a linker that understands the Windows LIB and  if your compiler
supports PASCAL calling sequences, you should be able to use that C 
compiler.  (Or does Windows depend on what the compiler does with registers?)

2) Does anyone have a Windows environment clone (public domain/shareware
or outright purchase) that is reasonably priced? Is anyone working on such
a clone? Borland!!? (Or are they really endorsing Open Look?)

3) If MS products are really the only alternative -- are there          
academic/student versions that are cheaper? 

Please email to me. Thanks for your help.

Dave Kumpf
hplabs!hp-lsd!davek