Submission + - Linux: More Devices than Any Other OS, Ever. (oreilly.com)
Q: the kernel, supports more devices than any other operating system ever.
A: I can back it up by that's true, and it's been independently verified by somebody from Microsoft.
Linux drivers are at normally one-third smaller than Windows drivers or other operating system drivers. We have all the examples there, so it's trivial to write a new one if you have new hardware, usually because you can copy the code and go. We maintain them for forever, so the old ones don't disappear and we run on every single processor out there. I mean Linux is 80% of the world's top 500 super computers right now and we're also the number one embedded operating system today. We've got both sides of the market because it's--yeah it's pretty amazing. I don't know why, but we're doing something right.
Q: [Why are binary modules Immoral]?
I say it is immoral for you to take our work and use it in a way that saying that you feel that your tiny contribution is greater that the entire contribution of these thousands of other people who have helped you achieved some goal. You are not playing nice with others.
Freedom is why it all works, of course. People write device drivers because they can. According to the article, device makers all over the world are starting to see the light as well. If you make devices or have an itch, go help Greg out at the Linux Driver Project. Please make sure to play nice by going with GPL3, this will protect everyone from patent attacks."