Perhaps some day, but not quite yet. Microsoft believes in preventative medicine. Corporately, I think they still remember how Gates made his way to the top and are afraid of being blindsided by the next big thing. So, rather than worry about which thing is the next big thing, they try to kill or take over it all.
No, it’s a big threat to Microsoft. If I had said it had already conquered Microsoft, then I’d agree that ‘not yet’ would apply. :) Rest of your post is spot on. :)
MS is reading the tea leaves. There is also going to be a serious threat from the new Ubuntu ‘app store’-like program that will be the new front end to Apt. The easier things get for the uninitiated, the more of a threat they become. The streamlining of software installs is a major part of that.