It is impossible for MS to abandon their patents, as there is no guarantee that other companies would not attept to undermine them, and at the same time they are under pressure to adhere to open standards.
To create an open source standard, which still includes their own inventions and those which they have acquired, they need to turn a blind eye the use of their IP. There is no guarantee, should they find their market position undermined by these uses of their IP, that their future leadership will not have a change of heart and begin to pursue these patents and take civil action against non-profit organisations which have no method to defend themselves.

Why not the same as Sun? Well, I think the major software companies are still feeling their way on this. The OSP would be excellent except for the problem about optional elements of the standard. Most standards do not have such widespread optional elements, so it is possible that the problem is inadvertent. But in that case MS need to vary the OSP in this case.

That is irrelevant as ISO does require rand as the bare minimum.

Is the OSP usable as evidence in court? Is a “promise” legally proof. If I promise to marry someone, I am not bound. If I promise you to ignore OOXML I can still use it. So how much is a promise worth, with a worldwide perspective? Is it legally proof.

Why doesn’t Microsoft offer the same conditions as SUN does?

Why do they? I think that it is abundently clear that the OSP goes way beyond what is required for an ISO standard. Ultimately each and every implementer has to satisfy themself, and the idea that NBs or ISO can do this for them is plainly misleading.

As I’ve commented elsewhere on your blog, there are three options implementers can consider. The CNS, the OSP, or the option to enter into a bi-lateral license agreement - one size isn’t going to fit all - just as in the case of document formats themselves.

“Mrs Turner came in and did bring us an Umble-pie hot out of her oven, extraordinarily good.”

Hmmm, maybe not too bad at all, it certainly sounds better than crow, so lucky I am a Brit!