Ubuntu is awesome. I'm sure you're already aware, but for the sake of others, you can get Ubuntu disks delivered to your front door for free, you don't even pay for shipping. Each set includes a live CD that you can boot from and test it out without it effecting your hdd at all. In nearly all cases it will automatically find your internet connection and network and you can be using Linux in the time it takes to boot your box. Here is the info:
http://www.shipit.ubuntulinux.org/ Ubuntu is a good distro to try because, while not perfect, it is very polished and is based on the most stable and widely supported Linux distro, Debian.
I agree that even the most user friendly distros have a way to go before they can appeal to the masses. It's odd because I have said before that I have no doubt that I can set my grandmother up with Mandrake or Linspire, give her email and browser icons, spend a little time showing her how to use it and she'll be fine. It is people who know more about Windows that will be more resistant to change, they will get frustrated.
I'm not an average computer user. I get a kick out of compiling software from source. The first time I saw a little window scroll with text that represents C++ being converted to binarys, I giggled like a school girl. The first time I modified my operating system at the code level, I was approaching the point of arousal. Knowing how to log into my web server via ssh, modify a file located there with vi, and do a little web browising via lynx from that computer half a continent away is like gnostic knowlege. I keep my data backed up and have a blast tinkering with my computer in ways that are physically and legally impossible with Windows.
I never really "liked" Windows, I like Linux. The above paragraph puts me outside the mainstream (the arousal part probably puts me WAY outside the mainstream). I recommend GNU/Linux to people whom I think it would work for: people who use illegal copies of Windows, geeks, grandmothers who just want to check email and visit their church's website, and people who aren't satisfied with Windows.
Linux superfans spout propaganda that rivals Microsoft's. Again, I say this is a disservice because people might be encouraged to try Linux based on one of those wild claims and get royally upset when they find out it wasn't true.
I don't mind people liking Windows and/or hating Linux; there are valid reasons to do both. But when this monolithic company lies and misleads the world I'll point the finger and proclaim, "BS".
I'm all about capitalism (ahhh...that member...the bearded shrink...you know who I'm talking about, Mik, I can't remember his name right now) once wrote something along the lines of how capitalism has gotten us this far and picking up the hammer and sickle didn't really appeal to him. I totally agree, often the hardcore free software people get going and I just want to gag on the utopian hand holding they go on about.
But like you said, it's nice using free software and being able to pitch in where you can, even if it is just answering questions and submitting bug reports.
Well, I'm about out of tangents to go off on.
Later.
-Damian