While that's true, I still know people who compile their own OS from scratch; I've gone through the experience of compiling my entire system from source via Lin

While that's true, I still know people who compile their own OS from scratch; I've gone through the experience of compiling my entire system from source via Linux From Scratch[0]. There are many thousands of people who have done the same thing, and this gives us a "web of trust". And if you don't want to trust anyone, you can always compile it yourself. That's the difference: I have the freedom to learn and study anything and everything. It might not be likely, and it might not be convenient, but it is possible. [0] - http://www.linuxfromscratch.org/lfs/view/stable/ http://www.linuxfromscratch.org/lfs/view/stable/