I've been without windows (in my boot manager) since '99, but yet still run a copy of 7 and XP in VMs. The problem with ridding myself completely of the OS is one of routine of other users. The demand that I submit or view documents in the latest Word format for work or school requires proprietary software. While Libre/OpenOffice can open these documents, when it comes to margins and other subtle features, OSS differs (likely due to following standards, but I digress). Clearly, gaming is always an issue, but I believe that most users are just so set in their ways that they do not want to be bothered with the hassle of installing another operating system.

On a side note, I had a user bring in their netbook last week. Their Win7 OS had been corrupted (deleted system files...). I replaced it with Ubuntu. It installed cleanly without the need for additional drivers, configuration, or any of the other complaints that MS users typically throw out there. I told her it was like Android and she came back today telling me how great it was working and how her kids want to use the netbook instead of the desktop now. So, I am extremely skeptical of the Windows users that complain about the configuration/installation/maintenance complaints because some distros have become so much like Windows that I'm transitioning to be free of Linux (moving back to Warp ;p ) in the next two years.

Does he have cell phone service at his home? He could purchase a fixed wireless terminal and use the cell phone network to connect to the internet.
Granted this won't be as quick as broadband, but it can reach speeds around 200kbps with a GSM/Edge based cell network, it's doubtful that he has 3G in his area yet.
Then all he would have to do is get a SIM chip and pay the cell phone company for a plan that includes unlimited data transfers.