The most important line from the [XHTML FAQ](http://www.w3.org/2009/06/xhtml-faq.html) published this week:
> Regarding the XML serialization of HTML, the HTML 5 specification includes a section on XML serialization,
> as well as a section on text/html serialization. W3C plans to continue work on both serializations in the
> HTML Working Group. Thus, we expect the next generation XML serialization of HTML to be defined in the HTML 5 specification.
Just like Spock said: “The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few…” I think that’s the best ending for XHTML, and it will continue to survive as a serialization form of HTML.