The Kinect for Windows SDK lists Visual Studio 2010/12 as one of its software requirements.
Why is this so? Is it not possible to program with the SDK in another IDE, say Eclipse?
No, you can code also in Eclipse, please see the information in the video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iJHR45u0wmo
and
also there is Jnect for Eclipse - The Java to Kinect for Windows SDK bridge http://channel9.msdn.com/coding4fun/kinect/Jnect-for-Eclipse-The-Java-to-Kinect-for-Windows-SDK-bridge