One thing that I think this argument sorely misses is an honest discussion of how e.g. bad (or perhaps unliked) decisions get made that have big impacts here.

For example, count me in with those folks who think the "new" GNOME sucks. Now, maybe you disagree and that's fine -- but so often those discussions start and end with "Well it's open source and so because you're not making anything better you can't even talk."

No. Some big players put their thumb on the scale and had a vision and a direction for GNOME and what role it would or should play; someone thought it was a good idea to try to out Steve Jobs Steve Jobs.

THOSE moves need more discussion and transparency in order to REALLY talk about "the Linux Desktop."

Those moves are made by Red Hat, to benefit their enterprise customers, because enterprise customers are the ones who pay for Linux, their interests get top priority.

Shuttleworth did so much for desktop Linux by mailing us all free install CDs, but then users everywhere began to expect Linux to be free as in beer.

But until users are willing to pay for desktop Linux again, like some of us may remember, enterprise will always win out.

Which is one reason a lot of people use kde which doesn't have anyone with their thumb on it.

Imagine if Windows got rid of or hid the start button, taskbar, tray icons, and window controls. Gnome is made for the devs that work on it more than the normal people that use it.