it wasn't just Microsoft, Andreessen invented the image tag by simply shipping it in Mosaic:
https://groups.google.com/forum/#!msg/alt.hypertext/fMl2xRqL...
TBL was against it, as were others. If he went through the theoretical 'standards' process that you infer is the 'right way' it never would have got done
I am definitely of the view of software first, standards second - because it has been proven throughout history to work