Windows vs Linux

OK.. I have to rant - and I have to rant NOW!
I hate all these "why linux will succeed on the desktop" or "linux v windows" posts everywhere, and there's one reason I hate them:
THEY STATE THE BLEEDING OBVIOUS!

Yes, I know why windows is in use in businesses, and yes I know that people will find it difficult to move to linux. Yes yes yes yes bleeding yes!
But there's also the replies to such entries, who are either one or the other - they are either FOR linux, and say "yes it's ready for mainstream BUT user have different problems to worry about" (and they try to ignore the problems users will have from the very first second) or they're very biased against "windows pwns j0o! My programs are only available in windows. I am uber great at windows and you can't manage linux the same!" (pointing out old, or totally irrelevant details like 'oh, you can't use the user management capabilities in linux"... DURR - LINUX IS DIFFERENT).

So, let's get down to the nitty gritty shall we? My thoughts!?
Linux is great on the desktop, all I need and more. It seems to be like a marching band to windows' electric organ. Sure you have to go around giving individuals music sheets, perhaps changing the instrument, adding in a musician or two, but you have an all encompassing solution which is highly dynamic, certain parts are highly specialized which improves their working, and the general why things work is 'better' (also a typical install may be a bit 'bulky'.. I think *my* default system is about 5 gigs - but that does include office suite, games, gnome - which I need for certain config apps etc as I use KDE, screensavers, development tools, graphics programs - compared probably to 3 or 4 for windows with fewer apps).

Now windows does have certain things correct. I was just moving from WEP to WPA-TKIP encryption on my wireless (I didn't trust wpa_supplicant until recently) network.
Trying to do it through 3 different approaches:

1. config files (damn they're horrible in Fedora.. not one or two - but 3 locations for identical files!? - maybe more..)
2. Network adaptor GUI (edits those config files for you - nicer interface.. I still had to do some deleting though)
3. Wireless networks gui (wlassistant and wpa_gui).

Now between them all, the configuration was only mildly annoying (the mildly being wpa_gui not saving anything to the config file - the same for wlassistant. They both HAD to be run as root(!?) and the network adaptor GUI didn't delete the keys files from the WEP encryption). It was very manageable and a reset to sort out the interface problems I caused means it now works correctly for my laptop.

Back on subject, windows has directx - which is a whole composite of input/output/graphics/audio/gadgetry/device/networking solutions. YES, there are alternatives (ALSA/OpenAL/OpenGL/OpenNA(new to me)/SDL(quite a good overall alternative - cross platform too)/etc) but they are not 100% comparative to (OpenGL lacks certain features which make Direct3D desirable - from what I've read) windows.
Windows (XP at least) had a good config layout. You'd go to networking options for IP address etc - and then to hardware if you wanted to fool around with the lower layers. Linux seems to mix these a little.

BUT - and here's the stinker - linux can give you 98-99% of what you want to do right now. It CAN use encryption, it can play your (non-DRM) movies and it CAN give you a nice way to see wireless networks and it CAN allow you to open up MS word documents and it CAN give you 3D, flash, audio, networking pleasure. It can provide you (I suddenly had an 'outer limits' moment there) with 1000 more customizations than your average windows user on the interface ALONE (again - KDE user here). You can use 80% of all hardware on the beast (those left out are mostly in the wireless section of the hardware isles) which only mean that 20% will have to be 'botched' (yes, you can make them work using windows emulation*).
*I know it's not really emulation but rather an abstraction layer which translates - but emulation is crude enough to inform the not-so-knowledgeable while the elders know what it means.

SCREW FREE AS IN BEER/FREE AS IN SPEECH.
Who the hell wants to debate politics!? I use a computer because I like the way it acts, it does WHAT I want, HOW I want to use it, it PERFORMS how I want it to and most importantly nowadays - I get it for a price which I am happy with (~£0 money, ~10 mins time-wise,on average, learning curve-come-config).
Yes windows is closed source, so what? Yes MP3 codecs are closed source (and patented due to those stupid yanks) - SO WHAT!?
Sure, I would prefer the free/open option. Sure I would use them by default - if given the choice.
Some would say "free as in speech" is all about freedom of choice - I say bollocks to you. Freedom of choice is to be able to choose closed source if I want to!
I'm locked into several needs (MP3's need to be used for my Ipod, flash needed for website satisfaction). I have one friend who needs windows for some musical application needs (I say he doesn't - but oh well).

So this rant is coming to a close: the outcome being that I love Linux. Everyone would love linux if they gave it a chance and could learn what needs to be done, or do without some games, or use a different application... But not everyone wants to. We all know why windows is still up there - because it comes by default, because less talented people (I include the rest of my family in that list) can't learn new methods quickly and because games are locked into windows (yeah, other lock-ins too but for the desktop it's games).
For those - I simply say fine. Wait for the march of progress, which is inevitable. I'm not saying linux desktop is coming as such, I'm not going to say when, or that it's soon. I'm saying it's here but that the people aren't ready to learn the quaint twists of linux. Linux will develop more user-friendly tools, and will emulate* windows to ease any transition. The companies will see an increase of activity and will adopt linux too one by one - bit by bit.
If you want to continue using windows - fine. I have no objection to you using it. I won't continue on at you, or force you - there's no point, microsoft are doing that already.

But you people please stop complaining about one or the other? Would they please stop trying to judge the other, put the other down and just try to actually make a good use experience while they can?

BTW - labels in this thing... when I type 'linux [comma] [space]' I don't expect 'santa linux story' to be substituted. What the hell!?