Well the difference is that I actually used Linux (everything from Ubuntu, Zenwalk, DSL, Knoppix, Puppy, and many others), and tried the stupid move of putting it on my wife’s and mother’s computer thinking that it’s free and it “does the same stuff”.
It didn’t take long before I was almost a full-time Linux tech support, most of which was spending time on forums trying in vain to get simple stuff to work. It simply wasn’t anything that you couldn’t have happen with Windows, and not be able to find multiple solutions fast.
What I saved in money, I spent twice as much in wasted time.
LOL!!!
I actually used Windows (everything from Windows 3.0 to windows 3.1 to windows 3.11) thinking it was actually a capable program.
It didn't take long before I realized it was just a shell sitting on top of the same old buggy DOS, and stopping me from getting simple stuff to work.
I noticed that you are very careful about not listing the time frame of your so-called experiences with Linux. My wife and kids all use both Linux and Windows (not my choice, obviously), and the only time I get called upon for system maintenance/troubleshooting is with their Windows stuff. Never, EVER, do I get requested to do anything for the Linux boxes, where they spend well over 99% of their time and effort.