Linux manages just fine without a QC department. However, it also only takes responsibility for the "kernel". Various components around the kernel can be broken

Linux manages just fine without a QC department. However, it also only takes responsibility for the "kernel". Various components around the kernel can be broken, and indeed some filesystems can cause file loss, but users full-well know of those flaws because of the transparent nature of Linux development. Perhaps a lack of transparency and too many responsibilities under one product (something Microsoft loves to do) is the problem, not the lack of an additional process layer.