I'm attempting to get a handle on XML namespaces.  I have the O'Reilly book
_Learning XSLT_, and in it the author says, "If namespaces sound somewhat
confusing to you, you are in good company.  Namespaces in XML are here to
stay, but they are admittedly befuddling and difficult to explain."

Oh goodie.  At least I'm in good company, though no smarter than I was
before.

So off I went to Webopedia which tells me that " In XML, a namespace is a
collection of names, identified by a URI reference, that are used in XML
documents as element types and attribute names. "

Hmm.

So that's different from a dtd in what way?  And why would I want to use an
element that's defined by someone else, somewhere out yonder on the
internet, when that someone might change it at any time without my
knowledge?  Why wouldn't I just use the element I have in my own DTD and
leave it at that?  Sounds to me like the problematic DLL issue just waiting
to happen again...

If there's anyone out there who can explain in plain language and
un-befuddle me on the purpose and benefits/drawbacks of XML namespaces,
please help!  Do people really go out of their way to use these things?  Are
they necessary?  Or are they like one's appendix: still around due to
evolution but not really used for anything?

Michele