I find these discussions odd...the idea of doing something new, and then talking about what's already been done versus the true 'new' technologies that are out there. It's always a windows vs. Linux vs. mac situation, instead of abstracting the technologies, looking at strengths, and seeing how they do where they are strongest.

Linux, being open source, gets ported to dang near everything. When someone mods a console...they target getting Linux on it. Why not windows or mac? The anwsers obvious, but the reason is powerful. XBMC was a huge success for linux demonstrating its ability to be flexible, portable, and to provide a stable platform for developers to build on.

Another great example, also in the media space..Tivos DVR system, which shows a commercial application of Linux and an end product that was so user friendly it has all but killed the VCR. An entire new product linup was born from this!

One more...many colleges and even hobbyists have been working in the multi-touch space (Similar to Perceptive Pixels touch wall, or Microsoft Surface. Many of these efforts are done using linux based PCs. (http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=linux+multi+touch&search_type=&aq=f) for quick examples

An operating system, to me..is a platform for developers to deliver rich apps on. There are of course other things that OS's are for, but a demonstration of a well built architecture is how many others can build on top of it.

I don't believe that linux has successes each year that are overlooked because everyone's doing a comparison instead of just appreciating what it's delivered.