My PC started bugging me to install Silverlight as an "optional" Windows update, several months ago. From my beloved Wikipedia I see that it is a 'net effects provider similar to Flash/Shockwave (you don't need to correct me on all the technical differences). Now with Adobe, I see a number of websites that require it for full functionality, and/or that prompt you to upgrade it when they need the latest release of it. So my questions about silverlight:

1) Does it take over the functions so that content that thinks it needs Adobe will get Silverlight? Or will sites that work with Adobe still need it and sites that use Silverlight require Silverlight?

2) Is everything going to work ok if I begrudgingly install 1.0? I couldn't find any particular horror stories on the web.

3) Is the installation going to reassign all my prefered solutions back to MS products?

4) Is it going to add bars to my IE? Is it going to add non-transient processes to my startup? Is it going to install other crap that I may not want? Is it going to add links to my desktop that prompt me to install other crap that MS wants me to get?