[adorno]

The free-market system for everyday products and services, is not the same kind of market that needs to exist for operating systems. Sure, we can probably support hundreds or thousands of OSes, but then, who’s going to support them on the consumer side, where most people would be seeking help on a daily basis because of the myriad of problems and utter confusion.

[familyop]

"The free-market system for everyday products and services, is not the same kind of market that needs to exist for operating systems."

But that's the way it is. Open source systems are here to stay. The case was won, and there's much more ahead.

"Sure, we can probably support hundreds or thousands of OSes, but then, who’s going to support them on the consumer side, where most people would be seeking help on a daily basis because of the myriad of problems and utter confusion."

Linux systems are now very easy to install and use for many millions perceived by some as the unwashed. This isn't only about software, though. It's about all productive activities for the civilization to come, regulations against such activities notwithstanding.

"...necessity, which is the mother of our invention" (Plato, _The Republic_).