<p>I'm developing a C# application that uses a handful of XML files and some classes in System.Xml.  A coworker insists on adding the MSXML6 redistributable to our install, along with the .NET framework but I don't think the .NET framework uses or needs MSXML in anyway.  I am well aware that using MSXML from .NET is not supported but I suppose its theoretically possible for System.Xml itself to wrap MSXML at a low level.  I haven't found anything definitive that .NET has its own implementation but neither can I find anything to suggest it needs MSXML.  </p>

<p>Help me settle the debate.  Does System.Xml use MSXML?</p>

System.Xml doesn't use MSXML6. They are seperate xml processing engines. See post here:
MSXML 6.0 vs. System.Xml: Schema handling differences