/john
You're right, we wouldn't want UNIX users to have to deal with KDE or GNOME. It just wouldn't be right.
The big issue I've run into talking with IT people in my area (including 3 MISs at mid-sized companies) is that their NT4 systems (inc. 98 clients) are a nightmare to operate now and they simply don't have the money for an NT5 system. Additionally, the MISs were horrified of the potential of having their databases on NT5's dynamic kernal and .Net. Another issue was the implications of the proposed changes to MS licensing next Feb. (mo' money, faster upgrading).
To be blunt, companies simply don't have this kind of money now and their NT4 systems are falling apart from security issues, malware and NT5's deployment. I had to explain to one MIS that the reason his company's software wouldn't run on a customer's new notebook was that it most likely was running 2000 or XP and they'd have to run the compatability patch/checker to see if the OS's HAL would accept their software. He said "oh, well we install our own .dlls with our software" so I had to delicately explain how NT5 deals with the installation of second-party NT4 .dlls.
From what I could tell every one of the MISs I spoke 'disliked' MS for what it was doing to their company. I.e., giving limited or no support to NT4, particularly with viruses. What's unfortuante about most IT professionals is they only know about running a computer, not a company.