> they were too expensive I think this is the biggest problem, plus the fact these systems tend to be tied to proprietary - and also very expensive - hardware

> they were too expensive I think this is the biggest problem, plus the fact these systems tend to be tied to proprietary - and also very expensive - hardware platforms. If I want to learn about GNU/Linux or BSD, all I need is a computer (PC in most cases, but other options exist) and an Internet connection. These days, most people (at least in Europe and North America) have these anyway, so it's really easy to get started in the comfort of one's own home. Having a free account on a public machine is cool, but it's not the same as having your own system, especially if you want to learn about system administration.