MS Access 'equiv' for Linux

I do a lot of consulting and I always advise Linux when it is "right" for the (business) client. It's getting 'more right' all the time for more businesses.

One thing I'm asked over and over and over is what is out there in the but the entire integrated programming-development environment.

Access is more than just a database front-end. You can cobble together some rather sophisticated quick-and-dirty applications using their form widgets, VBA language, and the reporting module.

I'm surprised that some group of open sourse engineers never sought to make a clone, perhaps using java or python, the QT or wyPython wigets, and maybe something like DataVision for reporting and combine them into an Eclipse-like IDE and call it Linaccess!

I've used Access for many years and it is the best applicaiton MS has ever brought out. You can get a hell of a lot of productivity out of it for the price and effort.

Is there anything (old or new) in the FOSS world that one can get the same results as they can from Access? If there is, I'm sure I can get a lot more small businesses to consider Linux.

Thanks,

Al