getting there (Score 1)

Check out EVMS. A commandline interface for hardcore hackers, an ncurses interface, and a GUI, all for partition/fs/lvm/raid/etc. management. And even when forced to a shell, the /dev/evms entries should calm even the most technophobic sysadmin.

Not to mention webmin, and tons of layers of "frontends"... Just because directly editing config files and controlling services from the commandline is preferred doesn't mean it's the only way.

Don't get me wrong, there is still work to be done. But right now, the only advantage I see of M$ alternatives is -- there are no alternatives. You get one nice, friendly GUI, no choices to make, no adventures into Bash -- and a serious lack of features.

But seriously, get any open-minded NT admin on Linux these days, show them webmin, show them evms-gui, show them 'make xconfig' for kernel builds, and show them Gentoo's kportagemaster.

I doubt they'll ever look back.