I think we can file this under "when you don't know what you don't know". I'd provide a link, but I can't find the Dr. Dobbs article online - it's titled "Why is Native Code Development Still Thriving" by Michael Swindell. In that, he talks about why native code is still relevant. No argument there - but I do have a nit to pick with this stated advantage of native code:

Programs that can run without any installation or prerequisites

Hmm - to run a Smalltalk app, you need two files: the VM, and the image. On Windows, you can make that into a standalone executable. So sure, he makes a lot of good points about the ongoing need for native code (after all, what is the VM written in?) - but complex installation doesn't have to be one of the things you buy with a virtualized application.