This again comes from the fact that both Windows and Mac OS X releases are properly tested and maintained and tend to be in more professional quality.

But why don't the Linux distros go to same lenghts? It shouldn't be impossible, unless of course, commercial projects are maintained more professionally.

I wonder if it'd be possible to create a testing platform utilizing virtual machines with user-submitted images of ROM or a soft-snapshot of their hardwares. This way we could have a global "virtual" test lab that would surpass Microsoft's or Apple's. I'm sure there is already a process model for testing among few users, but I think if we could simplify the actual testing process and widen the test user base, it would significantly help to reduce heart burns during initial rollouts.