OK, so i've spent about a day researching this now and hopefully i've got my particular scenario sorted. Can someone confirm the following for me:

1) I can buy Visual Studio 2005 Professional edition, which includes SQL Server 2005 Developer edition, install it on my XP laptop and get coding.

2) I can then, if i decide to, or it becomes necessary due to working or project conditions, UPGRADE my Pro Version of Visual Studio 2005, to one of the Team System versions (let's say developer version for arguments sake) and get the additional benefits in that version, along with the MSDN subscription level that i have chosen.

3) If i then, later, decide that i need the Architect Tools, or Test Tools, I can THEN get the Architect version and/or the Test Version (OR the Suite Version) and install that/those on the same Laptop and "poof" extra functionality will be added to the IDE that i have been using.

If this is true, i can avoid the steep costs for the time being, getting myself licensed to code (up to at least the standard i was before on VS.NET 2003 and SQL2000 but with obvious enhancements that a change from 2003 to 2005 would bring) for as little as 800 dollars for now, and upgrade later, only if required, with the assistance of a future working partner (or a vast influx of cash from somewhere).

I have always opted for the highest subscription level and the "all singing all dancing" versions of Visual Studio before, but this is now not financially viable for the small business, so extra careful research is now required...

Hope this all makes sense. With any luck, confirmation will help a whole bunch of people avoid the day-long trudge through conflicting web pages that i have just endured... and potentially save people a lot of cash in buying tools they won't need for the short term...

Feel free to ask for any further clarification of my situation before letting me know it's safe to shell out my 800 bucks...

thanks