Also, if you are the type of person who hangs around on HN, you are more likely to be the type of person with friends who run linux or who is comfortable worki

Also, if you are the type of person who hangs around on HN, you are more likely to be the type of person with friends who run linux or who is comfortable working through software configuration problems by googling for things and trying thinks from internet forums. Most people don't have that privilege, and so linux is actually pretty expensive for them in terms of time and frustration. (I run ubuntu with xmonad but have never written my own packages)