>Let't think about this dispassionately for a minute. Where are most people using Linux? As a server, right? Linux doesn't appear to be making much inroads into the desktop market from what I have read.
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>So, why would MS take a product like VFP that already has a small market and push it into a small market environment. Doesn't make much sense at any level. It would sell maybe 1000 copies a year? Companies go bankrupt taking far less chances.

Honestly, I thought about that same thing this morning. Does a desktop really need so much stuff? Here's what I came up with. The beauty of linux is that you don't have to have everything. So companies like Corel are trying to make a desktop friendly distribution of linux. The thing that I think kills linux on the desktop is its security. I guess that you could create a distro that automatically logs you in as root, but is that a good idea for mom?
Developers will understand and appreciate the security and stability. Mom wants it to be easy and pretty.