because the .NET framework is necessary to run any applications coded in .NET.
true... but thats not exactly what was asked (as far as I understand anyway), punisher asked if the .exe would run outside visualstudio.net - which is the coding environment - the answer to which is of course yes the .exe will run outside of visual studio (but within the .NET framework of course) . However I'd pretty much agree with everything else you've said.

Z