You are free to disagree that replacing a buggy, unsecure legacy operating system in government departments, the same departments that contain your tax information, military pay records, arrest records and public health statistics with a reliable, stable operating system is not in the best interest of the public. I happen to think that is a short-sided and dangerous point-of-view.
2. Your auto industry example fails miserably as well. Windows XP is not a "K" car and Linux is not an innovative improvement to the desktop like Hondas and Toyotas were in the seventies. Windows is getting better with each release and Microsoft is in no need of a government bailout.
In the 70's, Detroit failed to see the importance of fuel economy. In the 90's, Microsoft failed to see the importance of security. In the 70's, Detroit kept making cars the way they always had, despite warnings from industry watchers that times, they were a changin'. In the 90's, Microsoft kept punching out software the way they always had, despite warnings from industry watchers (Bugtraq, FBI, insurance companies) that the times, they were a changin'.
Yup, you're right. No comparison there. /sarcasm
As to the soccer analogy it fits. the reason third world countries love soccer is beacuse all you need is a ball. I also like any opportunity to slam soccer because it isn't a sport. Unlike soccer though, I actually play Linux from time to time.
Actually, I never noticed an analogy, merely a weak attempt to take potshots at several countries' decisions to get off of the Microsoft upgrade treadmill. And the UK and Japan hardly rate as third-world countries. Technically, the UK, Germany and Spain are first-world countries. Please make a note of it.
Personally, I think soccer is a stupid sport too, but your attempt to link the playing of a sport to the installation of hundreds of thousands of Linux desktops (which you insisted was a toy) in half a dozen industrialized nations doesn't stand up to examination.
I do believe that the point of the discussion is that in spite of your opinion that Linux on the desktop is a toy, quite a few people in positions of power around the world think differently.
Your different opinion is noted. And then compared to the expert opinions of others in positions to deploy Linux on the desktop to get work done. Your opinion seems lacking somehow.