Are you saying that the fact that the source isn't legally available to the population at large is a feature? If you are, it's an argument for security by obscurity, a system with a lot of deep known flaws.
That would be more the "Oracle stored procedures can be encrypted." Which is an argument for ISVs, as they can easier force their customers to pay "software maintainance".
With open code, clients could buy support from others, who may be cheaper or, even more dangerous, more qualified.
As long as the disease of "Intellectual property" is running around, that "I can encrypt my code" will provide some felt benefit for PHBs....
Harald
-- GHUM Harald Massa persuadere et programmare Harald Armin Massa Spielberger Straße 49 70435 Stuttgart 0173/9409607 no fx, no carrier pigeon - EuroPython 2009 will take place in Birmingham - Stay tuned!