You are probably right. I do understand what you're saying, most people get completely confused with even the slightest change but the point is, you're not buying an OS, you are buying a device.
The same people that get extremely confused by icon choices couldn't care less what OS their netbook is running, they will use what ever it came with. Vista is proof enough of that.
My point is it is not unthinkable for a vendor like Asus to create an environment that is simple enough for people with no prior experience with it to learn how to use. Obviously they might look at it and go 'wtf' cause it's not what they're used to but a show and tell and simple clear instructions should be enough right? Remember we are only talking about email, web, messenger. That is it. That's all most people use. As long as flash works, as long as you can click 'gmail' and up pops up your gmail account and so on then I can not see how it is simpler to instead use windows.
The lack of car analogies is much appreciated :)