"it is clear S3D technology is integral to this new msft/rdht partnership..."
IMO the analogy of oil, oil pipeline and oil storage applies.
Microsoft's Azure and now RedHat will bring their business {the oil} through Azure's "flagship application containerisation platform, Glassware 2.0TM" {the pipeline} to storage {oil storage eg Cushing} such as SnapCLOUDTM virtual Networked Attached Storage (NAS) solution, which allows enterprises to easily deploy enterprise storage in the cloud or in a hybrid cloud environment.
The more oil in the pipeline the more revenue for ANY. That is why the Azure Red Hat collaboration is important to Sphere.
JMO, Farrell Of course I could be completely wrong