Well, if you buy a $2500 violin, you sure wouldn't want to read this article:
http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/notrocketscience/2012/01/02/violinists-can%E2%80%99t-tell-the-difference-between-stradivarius-violins-and-new-ones/

In an ideal world, I agree with you. But if a family of a terminal patient tells me to do anything I can to "save him" and I refuse, after he dies, you can bet on them suing my ass off. Until this issue gets settled, I will have to do my best to convince the patient's family about him having no chance, but in the end, do as they wish... sometimes to the patients detriment. Sad, but true.

As a physician, I can tell you that many times I have faced patients that should have been given the chance to die peacefully, but the family have kept pressing me to "do something". Usually, I try to make them understand that at times like this it is best to just let Grandma die in peace and not prolong her suffering. Mostly I fail. And when after all the explaining the family keeps telling me to do something, I cannot disregard them (I do plan on keeping my license, you know?).
I don't think it's so much that western medicine failed, as it is that layman's expectations of medicine are unrealistic.

Actually, I partially agree with your sentiment. I worry more about privacy on the personal level and not on the corporate, world-spanning level. To clarify:
I don't give a rat's ass what Visa knows about me, and what Google collects about my searches and what info they get from it. Corporations want to spend millions of $$$ to harvest all my online activities and send me ads in my mail or on a site I visit? Let them have their fun. I don't give a damn. May they grow old and die chocking on their money, for all I care.
For me privacy is that only people I know can link my name to what I do (job, hobbies, friends, purchases, etc.). On this site, if you go through all my posts you can only find out which country I live in, my job and 1-2 of my hobbies, that's all. That's privacy. If some company aggregates all my actions on-line (or credit card purchases) in one big file, I don't mind; it's not like it's on some big bulletin board for my grandma to find.

Oh, and BTW, for years now I get ads and coupons in my monthly CC statement, usually targeted to stuff I buy, how is it different from what the summary mentions?

You should like this?

When I was a teenager I had about 5-6 OSs installed on my computer simultaneously (Windows, Linux, OS/2, etc.). Call it a hobby. Do I get geek creds for that? Unfortunately, those days are over. Nowadays I'm too busy to fool around too much with the computer. I prefer to have it as a tool, not a hobby (mostly a tool, you can't take the fun out of it completely).
So, yes, I am into mostly practical reasons, but I am not afraid to get my hands a bit dirty. As mcgrew said above, Linux machines are more secure. If on top of that, they don't slow down over time, like Windows machines do, it just might be worth my effort to try Linux.

One last question: One of the things that annoy me in Windows is that over time the OS gets progressively slower. Usually every year I do a complete clean install of the OS. Does Linux have the same problem or does it still run the same after a year compared to day 1? If this is a non-issue in Linux, it will really win me over.
Thanks

Actually, that was the one reason why I was reluctant to submit this question. I was afraid to come off as +5 Flamebait :)

Thanks for the thorough reply.
I just want to mention that I know a bit Linux, since in my teens (mid-90's) I experimented in installing different OSs on my computer, including Linux. But now, I guess my experimenting days are over and I want to see if I have any good reason to work at learning a new system (even though today it takes less to learn how to work with Linux). I think that for me the strongest point is the security one. It sure as hell will make my life easier, not having to worry (much) about trojans, virus and stuff.

The reason I am against dual-boot is because I just want my computer to have what I need. Since all my apps (pretty standard, nothing exclusive) can run on either OS, I don't see a reason to start each day with "what OS shall I work with today?".

I can calculate any digit of pi in binary off the top of my head with 50% accuracy.

"Abuse copyright" - You mean, tried to protect their original software? It's not like the RIAA trying to milk what they can from artists' work. It's a company making money off its own product. Doesn't sound like abuse; more like the original purpose of copyright (you know, promoting innovation and stuff?)
"Monopoly" - With less than 10% of OS market-share, it's hard to call it a monopoly. Maybe monopoly in Mac OS worlds, but it's their own development, and they can choose not to give other companies licenses to sell it. It's a perfectly reasonable business decision.
"DRM" - That is correct, they used DRM, but at least in order to protect their proprietary software, so it's not that evil, IMHO.
"Abused DMCA" - Actually, they used the DMCA exactly as it is written. You may not agree with this law (I don't), but the blame is not on Apple, but on the lawmakers. Talk to them.

So we are left with (maybe) 1 evil, more like 1/2. Better luck next time.

I just love this Streisand Effect. It means that no one can ever act anything wrong bad done to them, because people will notice. I think it's bullshit. Yes, the effect is real, but just because it is, it doesn't mean the Government (for example) shouldn't act against an employee violating his work terms.

Wood is matter. Does wood react to magnetic fields? Just because the body is made from matter, does not mean that anything can affect it.
Just to be clear, I do not say that magnetic fields do not affect the ear, I'm just saying that the fact that the body is matter does not mean it automatically does.