Well, there is Android, that uses Linux and is as mainstream consumer as it gets. Do mind that I specifically said 'Linux survived' as in 'the Linux kernel proj

Well, there is Android, that uses Linux and is as mainstream consumer as it gets. Do mind that I specifically said 'Linux survived' as in 'the Linux kernel project', followed by a number of Linux distributions. Also, where are those Linux users [who] have for years been fooled into running binaries or installing packages? The majority of Linux users get their software from repositories maintained by whichever distribution they use. This fact is one of the reasons why Linux users are far less likely to install 'random' software. It is that aspect of Linux distributions which 'stores' like F-Droid bring to Android. Last, what kind of 'hardening' do you deem every other consumer OS has had to make which Linux distributions have yet to accomplish? I'd go so far as saying that the likes of Windows and MacOS are playing catch-up here in finally getting around to implementing a sane repository infrastructure from which users can install and update software instead of having them hunting around the web for some SETUP.EXE to download and click on - which then proceeds to install not only the requested program but also a host of toolbars and 'shopping assistants'. That both Apple as well as Microsoft took one step further in making these software repositories single-source to the detriment of their user's freedom of choice is what started this discussion in the first place.