I understand that a large proportion of Googlers use Google's slightly customized Linux on laptops (which is also the default/recommended), which is completely

I understand that a large proportion of Googlers use Google's slightly customized Linux on laptops (which is also the default/recommended), which is completely compatible with your workflow, so I'm not sure what argument you were trying to make (unless you don't count laptops as "Linux on the desktop"?) I can only infer that you're suggesting people would only want to use Macbooks? Setting aside the fact that that is wrong, you don't make any argument as to why that would be.