>I do NOT want an OS that anyone can get in and tinker with.

Just because anyone can tinker with it, that doesn't mean you have to install a copy that someone has messed with. You can verify your downloaded files again encrypted signatures to make sure you have a clean version. It's this "tinkering" that makes Linux more alive than any non-OpenSource product.

>IMO, you're going to see a major split in the Linux market in the future that will render different versions incompatable.

What do you base that opinion on? Linux is managed by a central group of developers. If someone releases a distribution that is incompatible, it isn't linux, and they aren't allowed to say it is.

>It reminds me of Java, "Write once, debug everywhere".

Actually, Sun's Java is quite portable. It's the 3rd party compilers that break. But Sun's java is limited compared to the extensions that other companies offer.

>Linux support ain't gonna happen.

Linux support is already happening. Have you heard of VA Linux? How about Redhat or PenguinComputing. Even Dell supports linux now. I'm not sure what kind of support you want, but there is all sorts out there.