  We discuss various ideas for the origin of the soft X-ray excess seen in AGN.
There are clear advantages to models where this arises from atomic processes in
partially ionised rather than where it is a true continuum component. However,
current data cannot distinguish between models where this material is seen in
reflection or absorption. While higher energy data may break the degeneracies,
we also suggest that strong outflows are extremely likely to be present,
lending more physical plausibility to an absorption origin. This more messy
picture of NLS1's means that they are probably not good places to test GR, but
they do give insight into the spectra expected from the first QSO's in the
early Universe.
