Oh I agree, I cut my teeth on Novell 3.x 4.x but sadly Novell just doesn't have the install base it once had. I can't see going to my CIO and saying let's switch to Novell!.
For most of us in this business, and correct me if I'm wrong, were hired into environments that are based on X architecture. (be it nixed based, novell or windows). We never had the luxury of being the people who had a say in what was or was not implemented at day one.
With that in mind you make do with what you have. I have apps that are critical to our functionality but will only run on NT4 Service pack 5 (no SP6a for me). These apps were custom built at a huge cost. The companies that created the apps are no more and it's hard to find a replacement.
I've sat with my CIO in many meetings and the answer is always the same. "It works, it never goes down and we can't afford the time, man hours or money to replace it."
I explain that the only reason it still works to the duct tape and chewing gum in my pockets but that mainly falls on deaf ears.
Now I've depressed myself I'm going to grab a beer.
Sometimes that's not a bad idea, to stay back with a proven NT service pack. After all, a Microsoft product isn't ever truly out of the development phase until they no longer support it. :)
GW