Sorry Sir_Cmpwn, but that's happening with W10. Windows 8.1 with the 'Windows Firewall Control", classicshell, a strong HOSTS file (someonewhocares.org), and a Firefox with NoScript/ublock/adblock+/etc and you got your privacy control in order.
I do agree with the Linux argument you are making, but you cannot swerve 50% of the global Windows users into Linux. It still doesn't have the best UI reputation (although it gets the job done).
You can't simultaneously talk about 50% of global Windows users and their struggles with UI and assume they have the foggiest idea how to set up a strong HOSTS file and a carefully secured Firefox installation. How about they just don't use a hostile OS? If you're defending yourself from your own operating system, you've chosen the wrong damn operating system.
Also, I don't want to hear the UI argument when KDE Plasma exists. I bet 90% or better of Windows users would be comfortable on Plasma.
> If you're defending yourself from your own operating system, you've chosen the wrong damn operating system.
this is exactly 100% dead on the money
prior to Windows 10 Microsoft was at worst known for producing unreliable mediocre quality software, but they were trustworthy (at least for the end user)
Windows 10 changed everything, at the point you're fighting the company that made the OS to not spy on you, not show you ads, not reboot against your will and not reinstall random crapware you previously removed: it's time to switch
I understand you're talking about the reputation, but Linux UI has gotten really good over the years. Recent Gnome, Mate, and Cinnamon builds can be truly beautiful and the Ubuntu based OSes are legitimately beautiful out of the box. I've haven't used Ubuntu since 12.x, but even then it was a legitimately good looking OS, certainly better than Windows. Mint looks and functions intuitively for any Windows user. Anyone who says Linux UI is bad has either not used Linux recently or picked an obscure distro. I've used Fedora, Ubuntu, Mint, CentOS, and Arch within the past 5 years and they've all been solid. I would take any of those out of the box over an out of the box Windows 8 or 10. Windows is basically non-functional to me without classicshell.
As a professional who gets work done with Linux, I disagree. Lots of desktop environments (KDE, XFCE, Cinnamon) offer a UI is just as polished as mac or windows.
Lack of suitable software can be a dealbreaker for some professions. There aren't many professional video editing suites, for example. But in companies I've worked at, most workers only need a browser and an office suite to do their jobs. Linux would work for them.
I think the real obstacle is training. You have a workforce that's already used to the way windows works. It's easier to hire IT people with windows experience than it is with Linux. Users know how to do their tasks in Microsoft office, and even though Libre office is similar, they might have to learn a few new things.
I do agree with the Linux argument you are making, but you cannot swerve 50% of the global Windows users into Linux. It still doesn't have the best UI reputation (although it gets the job done).