Who knew my e-mail would cause such a stir? For the past several weeks, as we made the transition to the new site, I used Gmail as my primary e-mail account for work. I regularly use a Windows Live Hotmail account, as well.

But for a variety of reasons, including my easy-to-remember address, it was more natural to go with Gmail in this case. Frankly, I didn't give it a lot of thought. But it sure did catch the attention of some Microsoft people who received my messages.

"Nice support of the Northwest tech industry using that gmail address," went one typical reaction.

These comments were made in a lighthearted way, and they're typical of the razzing that takes place sometimes in casual conversations on the beat. I didn't take them seriously, and even if I did, I certainly wouldn't stop using Gmail or any other product as a result.

But they did raise an interesting issue. It's reminiscent of that era when much of the U.S. population felt compelled to buy American cars and trucks out of loyalty to domestic automakers. It might seem ridiculous to suggest such a thing in our increasingly global economy. But maybe, in these times of turmoil, it would be in the best interest of any region's residents to favor products and services from nearby technology companies -- the ones that contribute most directly to a local economy.

So here's our inaugural Hot Button issue: Should consumers be loyal to hometown technology? Please offer your opinion in this online poll, and in the comments below.

Have a Hot Button issue for the TechFlash community? Write it up in 300 words or less, and send it with your name and contact information to techflashtips@bizjournals.com.