This seems to throw the baby out with the bathwater in regards to Linux. Because Linux doesn’t have a desktop that is user friendly in all cases, it can’t ever be a laypersons OS. Except for Mac OS, but that doesn’t count for reasons.
I’m not sure. I guess you have to admit the author is right about the Linux desktop experience: seems nice until a simple task requires some arcane coding and command line fu. Even as a very tech savvy user I run into these challenges. But its usually because I’m trying to make the OS do something (for free, and very custom) that I couldn’t even do on Windows unless maybe there’s an existing app developed to do it (which will be inflexible and pricey).
But is the best option to give up on Linux and make something else? I’m not convinced. Seems like the xkcd “we need a new universal standard!” joke.