It's still not certain why Microsoft appears to be pulling the plug on Band hardware, assuming it isn't planning a surprise revival at its October 26th event. However, it may be due to a combination of demand with Microsoft's ultimate goals. Although Band did flirt with success (there were times when it sold out), its sales didn't hold a candle to those of either dedicated activity trackers like Fitbit or to smartwatches. And ZDNet's Mary Jo Foley argues that Band was really meant to help Microsoft Health get a user base for its services, not to conquer the market -- the company may simply be happy that you're using its apps.